Nature and animal-based TV networks could create full-length documentaries out of Luka Dončić’s predator-like hunt for fruitful matchups through pick-and-rolls, and given the postseason’s possession-by-possession style, it was only a matter of time before a reacquainting with Rudy Gobert would arrive. Eager to test his isolation chops against the four-time Defensive Player of the Year once more, Dončić brings the Minnesota Timberwolves’ star to the dancefloor, first working a series of between-the-leg dribbles to carve out a left-side driving lane. Donning his trademark smile before a shot attempt even goes airborne, Dončić finishes the sequence patiently, freezing Gobert with a pump fake before rainbowing home a soft-touch floater. Through a strong Game Two response, the Los Angeles Lakers ensured that Dončić’s dominant individual performance went accompanied by a series-tying performance on April 22, 2025. Becoming just the third-ever playoff Laker to produce back-to-back 30-point opens, Dončić’s final box score included 31 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, one block, and two 3-pointers. · Apr 23, 2025