Houston has been tremendous ever since, though. In Game 5, the Rockets won 131-116 after three players scored 24 or more points in VanVleet (26), Amen Thompson (25) and Dillon Brooks (24). In fact, the Rockets took a 27-point lead into the fourth quarter, leading to head coach Steve Kerr clearing the bench early.

The Wolves didn't just dispatch the Lakers in five games; they came into L.A. for Game 5 and took their spirit: as they were all series long, Minnesota was too big, too strong, too fast for a Lakers team whose dynamic duo looked run ragged by series end (and who never managed to find enough viable pieces around them after acquiring Doncic back in February).