LeBron James wasn’t just battling the Timberwolves in Game 5 — he was playing through a serious knee injury.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, an MRI on Thursday confirmed that the Lakers star suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s series-ending loss to Minnesota.
The injury carries a recommended recovery timeline of 3 to 5 weeks, per the report. An injury that would have sidelined him for the rest of the playoffs had the Lakers advanced.
The Play That Led to the Injury
The incident occurred with 8:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. Donte DiVincenzo, attempting to set a moving screen, collided directly with LeBron’s left knee while a pass was being thrown to Julius Randle on the perimeter. James fell to the floor in visible pain and had to exit the game.
At the time, the Lakers were down by just 2 points — this wasn’t a blowout or garbage time injury. It happened in the middle of a tightly contested, still-winnable game.
He was briefly examined on the sideline by his longtime trainer Mike Mancias, but remarkably — returned to the game just over a minute later, checking back in with 7:23 to play.
LeBron played the rest of the way, logging 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, but the Lakers ultimately fell short, losing 103–96 and ending their postseason.
A Streak Nearly Broken
If the Lakers had forced a Game 6, it’s likely LeBron would have missed it — ending one of the league’s most impressive active streaks. The 40-year-old has now played in an NBA-record 292 playoff games without missing one due to injury.
According to McMenamin, that streak would “assuredly” have ended had the series continued.
What Happens Now?
LeBron’s offseason will begin with rehab, and while no surgery is currently reported as necessary, the timing of the injury explains why he didn’t look fully mobile late in the game, especially on defense and during half-court sets.
The news adds another layer to what was already a tough ending to the Lakers’ season — one where they were outmatched physically by the Timberwolves and ultimately bowed out in five games.
