Two Western Conference teams faced elimination, down 3-1 in their first-round series. One series will move to a Game 6, while the other came to an anticlimactic end.

The 2025 NBA playoffs continue Wednesday with a pair of Western Conference Game 5s. First, the Houston Rockets (-4.5, 204.5) return home and aim to stave off elimination from the Golden State Warriors. Then, the Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5, 209.5) try and keep their season alive against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After a wild NBA season that saw the Los Angeles Lakers start slow, add Luka Dončić and eventually surge to 50 wins and the West's third seed, they were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Behind a monster 27-point, 24-rebound performance from Rudy Gobert, Minnesota won 103-96 on the road to end the series in just five games.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ season ended with a 103-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 at home Wednesday night. It was a close game, but the Timberwolves ultimately won behind a huge performance from center Rudy Gobert.