The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to meet expectations in the NBA playoffs. They tied the series with a win in Game 2, but they suffered a costly setback in Game 3. As a result, their chances of advancing in the postseason took a major hit. However, the Lakers faced more than just on-court challenges. Both LeBron James and Luka Doncic dealt with health issues before the game. Because of this, JJ Redick addressed James’ condition after the loss. He shared an important update ahead of a crucial Game 4.
“He’s moving better. He seems like he’s getting healthier by the day. It’s typically a 1-2 week injury and I believe it’s been two weeks tonight, if I’m not mistaken, from the Houston game. Clearly he’s moving better,” affirmed JJ Redick on Spectrum SportsNet.
Even though LeBron James was not in peak form, he still led the Lakers’ offense with 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Therefore, the Lakers’ loss was not because of his performance. Instead, other factors prevented the team from securing a win.
Despite being 40 years old, his performance was preponderant. For this, Anthony Edwards praised the veteran directly: “He was incredible. He did everything he could in his power to try to will them to a win. He was shooting it from Yucatan. For sure, he was shooting it crazy. He caught one of them in transition and I was like kinda closing out and I’m like ‘He not about to shoot this.’ And he launched. I’m not gonna lie, it was fun to be watching him and competing against him today, for sure.”
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers rebounds during the first quarter in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 6, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The loss hit Los Angeles Lakers fans hard, especially because the team was so close to winning the third quarter. They almost entered the fourth quarter with the lead, which made the defeat even more frustrating. However, the Lakers still control their destiny and have a good chance to reach the conference semifinals. Game 4 will once again take place at Target Center, where the Lakers will fight to stay alive. If they win, they will head into Game 5 with momentum and real hope of continuing their championship journey.
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JJ Redick criticizes Lakers’ defensive struggles after loss to Timberwolves
The Los Angeles Lakers entered the NBA playoffs showing renewed defensive consistency. However, in their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, they exposed several defensive weaknesses. As a result, the team lost control of Game 3 due to repeated individual mistakes. After the game, JJ Redick admitted that his defense did have their best night.
After being asked about Anthony Edwards’ impact on his defense, JJ Redick admitted that the problem went beyond just one player and was highly critical of his team’s overall performance. “I think it was across the board. It wasn’t just him. We couldn’t contain the ball tonight. Our closeouts in the first quarter were God awful. He just got into the teeth of our defense too much. The fact is we don’t have rim protection. And you had McDaniels absolutely kill us.”
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