The Los Angeles Lakers were already fighting to preserve their season in Wednesday's Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and things got more difficult in the first half when Luka Dončić exited with an injury.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have advanced to the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs after an impressive road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. The Lakers are now eliminated from the postseason,

Dončić immediately grabbed for his lower back, laying on the court for an extended period of time before eventually being removed from the game. After being examined on the sideline, he and a member of the Lakers training staff quickly made their way back to the locker room ahead of halftime.