The Los Angeles Lakers' 2024-25 season concluded with a disappointing 4-1 first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers, who had high expectations entering the postseason, faltered in crucial moments, ultimately losing the series, despite being dubbed as favorites.

Playoff success was a largely foreign concept to the Minnesota Timberwolves during their first 34 years of existence.

Even after Minnesota won Game 1 on the road—“stole” in the parlance of forgiving Lakers surrogates—coverage of this series tilted Lakers this, Lakers that,