Magic Johnson Felt Sick to His Stomach as Concerns Rise After Austin Reaves & Luka Doncic’s Claim

Beaten. Broken. Battered. The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to strategically dismantle what everyone thought was a championship-worthy Los Angeles Lakers. While the first two games inched the balance squarely in the middle, the next two were enough for some panic to settle in JJ Redick’s locker room. For all we know, especially after their latest clash, even NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson was left gasping for air. A Lakers win looked well within reach as they led for most of the second half, but the real game-changer came about with just 10 seconds left for the buzzer.

It’s important to note that a late-game charge by Jaden McDaniels dealt some damage that ultimately contributed to the team securing a 113-116 win. McDaniels expertly converted a three-point play with 39.5 seconds left and stole the following inbound pass from LeBron James. However, with about 10 seconds left, Edwards was driving down the basket after a pass from Donte DiVincenzo. James got in his way, and the opponent fell to the ground, leading to a Minnesota challenge. A lengthy review later, it was determined that ‘The Akron Hammer’ made contact with Edwards’ wrist, resulting in a foul.

Already down by one, the foul was costly to the Lakers, as Edwards capitalized on two free throws, pushing the scoreline to 116-113. Austin Reaves, meanwhile, tried to answer back with a three-pointer at the buzzer, but missed. The next minute? Chaos. Collapses. And a complete meltdown that left everyone—players, fans, and legends alike, feeling absolutely sick. And if you think we’re being dramatic, just wait till you hear Magic Johnson’s reaction. Spoiler alert: He’s just as nauseated as the rest of the Laker Nation.

Johnson didn’t hold back, voicing what every Lakers fan felt in real time. Late last night, the retired veteran let it all out on X with no filters, or PR gloss. “I’m just sick to my stomach that the Lakers lost this game after being in control most of the 2nd half.” He also doubled down with multiple other tweets, dissecting the players and strategies. Sharing his two cents on Edwards’ game-high 43 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, the former Lakers player wrote, “Just a brilliant performance and masterful 43 points by Anthony Edwards tonight in the Timberwolves win over the Lakers. As the old saying goes, live by the jump shot, die by the jump shot.”

Furthermore, he also relayed a critical piece of advice for JJ Redick in another update that read, “I dont know if it smart to play LeBron and Luka the entire second half after only having one day of rest between Games 3 and 4. When we needed LeBron to take over in the fourth quarter he couldn’t – he scored 0 points in the fourth.” Looks like the coach will have to wait some more to make it to Johnson’s good books, especially after the latter had somewhat criticized the head coach after their 117-95 Game 1 upset.

On that occasion, Johnson had pointedly remarked on X, “Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season but he didn’t do a good job for Game 1. The Lakers stood around on offense, played too much one-on-one basketball, and he didn’t make any necessary adjustments,” before adding in another tweet, “Tonight was one of the Lakers worst performances this season. They were flat, had no energy, and they played like it was a regular season game.”

As for the roster’s performance after their latest loss, Edwards easily outperformed Luka Doncic. But we must consider his stomach ailment, and how he, despite that, finished with 38 points on 13-for-28 shooting. James, on the other hand, pulled off 27 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, while Rui Huchimara added 23 points, 5 rebounds and one assist.

Top Comment by Dwscurlark

He is absolutely right and plus as usual LeBron disappeared in the fourth supposed goats don’t do that they shine...more

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Magic Johnson’s Searing Take: What Went Wrong for the Lakers and Why He’s Calling for Accountability

When Magic feels sick, you know it’s officially a crisis. No sugarcoating. No “we’ll get them next time” speech. Just raw disappointment from one of the greatest Lakers of all time. And honestly? You can’t even blame him. Magic has lived through the highest highs and lowest lows with this franchise. He’s seen championship banners raised and crushing playoff exits. But when a team shows so much promise during a crucial playoff stretch, only to unravel in front of everyone’s eyes, that hits differently. This wasn’t just a random regular-season L. This was the kind of playoff-stage loss that exposes deeper cracks, the ones you can’t just fix with a timeout or a pep talk.

Magic Johnson’s reaction wasn’t just about losing a game. It was about the bigger, scarier reality: Are the Lakers actually ready for this moment? Or are the wheels starting to come off when it matters most? Because if a team can’t hold it together with everything on the line, then what does that say about their championship DNA? Because here’s the actual plot: What the players said after the game wasn’t exactly confidence-inspiring either.

When asked about the late-game inbound play that pretty much sealed the Lakers’ fate, Luka Doncic didn’t hesitate to admit it: “We had two screens. We had a miscommunication. I gotta be better”.

That simple word, miscommunication, is a dagger when you’re talking about elite playoff basketball. Every detail matters. Every screen, every rotation, every inbound pass could be the difference between advancing or going home. And if the Lakers are falling apart on something as fundamental as an inbound set? That’s terrifying.

And just when you thought that sounded bad, Austin Reaves chimed in with his own slice of postgame honesty: “It’s the playoffs. Fatigue shouldn’t matter. We should have executed better on the defensive end.” Translation? This wasn’t about being gassed. It wasn’t about being unlucky. It was about the Lakers just flat-out not getting it done when it counted most.

Reaves wasn’t making excuses, and maybe that’s the scariest part. Even with the self-awareness, even knowing exactly where the breakdowns happened, the Lakers still couldn’t stop the bleeding. When the margins for error are non-existent, like they are in the postseason, every mental lapse gets magnified. Every missed switch. Every sloppy possession. One miscommunication can snowball into a full-blown collapse, and that’s exactly what the Lakers experienced.

Look, blowing a lead can happen to the best teams. Even dynasties have off nights. But when you have your young stars talking about “better execution,” your opponents casually admitting they picked apart your defense, and your all-time legends tweeting that they’re sick to their stomachs, it’s more than just one bad night.

It’s a flashing red warning sign. The playoffs don’t forgive teams that crumble under pressure. They expose them. And right now, the Lakers aren’t just getting exposed. They’re flat-out getting dismantled mentally, and Magic Johnson can see it as clearly as anyone else. In the postseason, mental toughness can matter just as much as talent. And right now, the Lakers look like a team questioning themselves at the worst possible time.

The Lakers’ inconsistency is glaring — dominating the third quarter 36-23 to build a commanding lead, only to collapse in the fourth, getting outscored 32-19. Even more troubling? Anthony Edwards nearly outscored them by himself with 16 fourth-quarter points. Down 3-1 in the series, this kind of meltdown spells serious trouble.

It’s obvious that the Lakers aren’t just losing games, they’re losing control. The question is: can the Lakers regroup before it’s too late? Or are we witnessing the start of another all-too-familiar heartbreak? Because if last night was any preview of what’s coming next, Lakers fans might want to brace themselves. This storm’s just getting started.