Rui Hachimura Reveals How Lakers Can Fight Back in Series vs Timberwolves

Apr 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dribbles the ball as Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) plays defense in the second half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Outside of an embarrassing Game 1 defeat, the Western Conference's No. 3-seeded Los Angeles Lakers have more or less held their own against the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, despite now trailing Anthony Edwards and co., 3-1, in their best-of-seven first-round series.

Next up: Game 5 at home. pic.twitter.com/PssJJsMLpI

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 27, 2025

During a postgame conversation on Spectrum SportsNet, power forward Rui Hachimura expressed confidence that Los Angeles could at the very least push the series to a Game 6.

"Oh, we’re gonna get one, yeah we’re gonna get one. This is not done yet," Hachimura asserted. "We’re right there, we’re really right there, we just gotta fix little things. Of course, the fourth quarter is gonna be the problem for us so we gotta watch the film again. We just gotta execute. We gotta pay attention to calls, adjustments defensively and offensively. We gotta be locked in."

Los Angeles struggled to wrap up close contests in both Games 3 and 4 on the road.

The Lakers get outscored 32-19 in the 4th quarter and are now down 3-1 to the Timberwolves. @geeter3, @mike_bresnahan, and @JamesWorthy42 recap the game 4 loss. pic.twitter.com/3bNqPD7GJN

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 27, 2025

Through the first three contests, Hachimura had logged a lackluster 9.3 points on .400/.385/1.000 shooting splits, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks a night.

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Los Angeles looked to feature Hachimura significantly more in Game 4. He scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the floor (5-of-10 from distance), pulled down five rebounds, and dished out one dime.

"Those little mistakes are gonna hurt us, so we gotta communicate well, we gotta be better on that side," Hachimura added. "The coaching, the players, everybody be on the same page. But I think, yeah we’re gonna get one.”

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"I think we’re right there, we just gotta fix little things and we have to execute," Hachimura said. "Those last five minutes, six minutes whatever that is we gotta be more focused mentally, physically. We gotta be stronger, we gotta make those shots. So yea we’re right there, we just fix those."

Some Lakers are familiar with 3-1 series comebacks. In the 2016 NBA Finals, Los Angeles forward LeBron James infamously achieved the feat against the Golden State Warriors, while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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