Apr 27, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) talks with a referee in the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

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LeBron James Disgusted: “The Hand Is Part of the Ball, That’s What They Say”

The Lakers suffered their third loss in four games against the Wolves on Sunday.

It was a defeat that came at the end of a thrilling contest (113-116), even though L.A. held a 10-point lead at the start of the final quarter. A tough blow for LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and their teammates, who are now on the brink ahead of Game 5 on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena.

Speaking to reporters after the game, LeBron James first took a moment to tip his hat to their opponents.

“Big shots kept coming at the end. But they made more than we did, obviously. Anthony Edwards was unstoppable in the fourth quarter, Naz Reid was excellent too. And Jaden McDaniels was also huge, especially with his ‘and one’.”

After the praise, the King shared his perspective on the Lakers’ poorly managed finish, rejecting the idea that fatigue was the cause of their costly collapse (L.A. was outscored 19-9 over the final five minutes).

“We got good shots. Luka Doncic missed a layup that could have put us up by 7, I missed one that could have given us a 4-point lead… We had our chances. And I don’t think fatigue had anything to do with it. We got the looks we wanted. We just didn’t convert.”

Luka Doncic echoed the same sentiment when asked about possible tired legs down the stretch.

“It’s the Playoffs. There’s no room for fatigue. They simply executed better than us at the end.”

Rather than dwell on the setback, the Slovenian star preferred to look ahead with determination, while acknowledging the huge challenge facing JJ Redick’s team.

“It’s an incredible challenge. We’re going to have extra motivation for the next three games. It’s going to be tough; every possession will matter. We have to give it 100%.”

And while the dream now seems like a long shot — only 13 teams in NBA history have come back from a 3-1 deficit — LeBron James saw some encouraging signs from the Lakers’ Game 4 performance, though he remained cautious.

“We have to keep working on our game. We showed some good things tonight, especially in the third quarter. But what’s true one night isn’t necessarily true the next. They’re going to make adjustments, and so will we.”

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With his mind already focused on what promises to be an explosive Game 5 in L.A. on Wednesday, the four-time MVP couldn’t help but bitterly bring up the final foul called in Anthony Edwards’ favor as he tried to steal the ball — a decisive whistle that led to two made free throws by “AntMan,” effectively sealing the game.

“That kind of play happens all the time. The hand is part of the ball — that’s what they say. And Anthony Edwards’ hand was on the ball. I hit his hand while it was on the ball, and the ball got knocked out of bounds… We’ve seen this play hundreds of times. But it is what it is.”

The Lakers will now have to quickly regroup if they hope to stay alive in a playoff series where they were widely seen as heavy favorites. Otherwise, a very long summer awaits LeBron James and Luka Doncic…

Photo Credit : Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

LeBron James