Luka Dončić isn’t backing down.
After the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116–113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves put them in a 3–1 series hole, the Slovenian star addressed the media with a mix of frustration and focus — and made one thing clear:
“It’s definitely disappointing, but we haven’t lost anything yet. First to four wins.”
Despite the heartbreak of Game 4 — where the Lakers blew a 12-point third-quarter lead — Dončić struck a defiant tone. His message? The series isn’t over.
“This Is the Playoffs — Fatigue Shouldn’t Play a Role”
Dončić, who dealt with a stomach illness in Game 3, returned to form with a 38-point performance on Sunday. But his efforts weren’t enough to overcome Minnesota’s late-game surge, led by Anthony Edwards’ explosive 43 points.
Asked about head coach JJ Redick’s bold move to play just five players the entire second half, Dončić refused to blame fatigue.
“This is the playoffs. Fatigue shouldn’t play a role in this. I think they executed better on defense in the last few minutes.”
The five-man lineup of Dončić, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Dorian Finney-Smith played all 24 minutes of the second half — a rare move that hadn’t been seen in any playoff game since the league began tracking rotation data.
“It’s a Fun Challenge”
Despite the pressure and the odds, Luka sounded motivated, not defeated.
“It’s a fun challenge and we should have extra motivation to win the next three games. It’s going to be very tough and every possession is going to be important.”
The Lakers have struggled in the fourth quarter throughout the series — and Dončić hinted at frustration with officiating, referencing a late-game no-call he believed should’ve been a foul on Minnesota.
Still, his focus remains on Game 5, set for Wednesday, April 30 at Crypto.com Arena. It’s win or go home — and the Lakers will need Dončić at his absolute best to extend their postseason hopes.