Talar Sarkissian
Staff Writer
On Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Lakers were looking to extend their playoff run in game five against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After putting up a strong fight, they were unable to secure the win, 103-96.
The arena was packed to the brim with approximately 20,000 people in attendance.
The Lakers started off slow in the first half, struggling to get stops on defense and missing open shots. Despite this, the arena was filled with energy. The atmosphere was electric and fans were eager to see their home team win game five, which would keep them in the playoffs.
“This atmosphere is the most incredible thing I’ve experienced. Nothing could have prepared me to see this live for the first time,” first-time Laker game attendee Daron Alexander said.
Lakers stars LeBron James and Luka Dončić scored a combined 50 points. The Lakers went 11-for-37 from the three point line, compared to the Timberwolves who went 7-for-47. Lakers power forward Rui Hachimura carried the team, scoring 23 points and grabbing four rebounds. He gave the team much needed boosts of momentum in key points of the game.
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert protected the paint with 24 rebounds. He played a key role in his team’s victory and also scored 27 points.
The Lakers ended the first half down by 10 points but they came back in the third quarter, showing their teamwork and catching momentum. They closed the quarter down by one point.
“I honestly thought they were going to pull through, considering it was a home game,” said Lakers season ticket holder Steven Nenejian. “I’ve been coming to games since I was a kid, so it’s really difficult to see a team I have so much passion for lose in such a heartbreaking way.”
The Lakers looked like a completely different team in the third quarter. They were moving the ball more efficiently, playing lockdown defense, and feeding off the crowd’s energy.
As the fourth quarter began, the Lakers were down one. The fans were all extremely hopeful as this was the last chance to extend their playoff run. The arena erupted with cheers for their home team.
Despite this, the Lakers couldn’t find their rhythm. The Timberwolves finished off the game with multiple second chance points and important free throws.
“I’m honestly very disappointed,” Lifelong Lakers fan Azad Kevoian said. “They had every chance to win the game, especially at home. It’s frustrating to keep watching the same mistakes every season.”
“I honestly haven’t heard the arena that loud in a long time,” Taline Baghdadlian, another season ticket holder, said. “It was cool to see the fanbase that excited for a game. They came up short, but we’ll be back next year.”
Talar Sarkissian can be reached at talar.sarkissian@laverne.edu.
Talar Sarkissian is a sophomore communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is a staff writer for the Campus Times and is actively involved in marketing and media.
