Gobert’s 27-24 night sends Lakers packing.

LOS ANGELES — After the Timberwolves defeated the third-seeded Lakers on Wednesday night to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs, Anthony Edwards made a bold and playful entrance into his postgame press conference, shouting, “Ant-Man, Superman, Lakers in five!”

Edwards was throwing shade at the widespread predictions that favored the Lakers to win the series in five games — a result that flipped entirely in Minnesota’s favor. With their 103-96 win on the Lakers’ home court, the Timberwolves clinched the series in five games themselves, making history with back-to-back first-round series wins for the first time in franchise history.

“What makes it feel even better is that they said ‘Lakers in five,’ and the Wolves won in five,” Edwards said with a grin. “So I think that makes it feel 10 times better.”

Reflecting on the magnitude of the win, Edwards added, “It means a lot. I mean, we beat the best player in the world — the best player ever.”

The Lakers came into the postseason as favorites, riding high after acquiring superstar Luka Doncic in a blockbuster February trade that helped them surge to the No. 3 seed. The move positioned Los Angeles as serious title contenders, and many believed they had the tools to make a deep playoff run.

Before the playoffs began, ESPN BET ranked the Lakers with the fourth-best odds to win the NBA Finals at +1300. In contrast, the Timberwolves, seeded sixth in the Western Conference, were long shots at +4000.

Despite those odds, Minnesota’s grit, chemistry, and stellar performances — including Rudy Gobert’s dominant Game 5 showing — proved enough to send the Lakers home early.

The Timberwolves’ statement win not only silenced doubters but gave the team its most promising postseason outlook in years. With rising star Edwards leading the way, Minnesota is riding a wave of momentum and belief as it enters the second round, eager to continue rewriting the franchise’s playoff legacy.