The first NBA playoff trip taken by the Los Angeles Lakers' new superstar tandem of LeBron James and Luka Dončić was a dud. It's not that their first-round loss to the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves was super surprising—Minnesota had a much better net rating this season—it's that the series loss exposed some of the bigger issues with the rest of the roster.

The Los Angeles Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 5 of their 2025 NBA playoffs series. Here are predictions, picks and odds.

The field for the second round is beginning to take shape in the 2025 NBA playoffs. Eleven teams remain in the playoff bracket, and five teams -- the Thunder, Cavaliers, Pacers, Celtics and Timberwolves -- have already moved on.

Referees missed the Lakers’ Luka Doncic getting fouled with 33 seconds left in Game 4 of their playoff series against the Timberwolves, the NBA said. But no matter what happened in Game 4, the Wolves can close out the series in Game 5 Wednesday.