Lakers Stunned as Timberwolves Dominate Playoff Opener
The Lakers finally got to skip the play-in tournament this year, earning themselves a full week off before the playoffs. But that rest might have backfired in a big way.
Minnesota showed up ready for a fight Saturday night, and the Lakers simply couldn’t match their intensity in a brutal 117-95 loss at Crypto.com Arena.
“It’s not to say our guys weren’t ready to withstand a playoff-level basketball game… I’m not sure physically we were ready,” admitted Lakers coach JJ Redick after the game.
When the Wolves cranked up the physicality, Los Angeles had no answer.
Austin Reaves put it bluntly: “They just physically beat us from the get-go.”
The loss came despite Luka Doncic’s impressive 37-point performance, including 16 in the first quarter alone. But Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, playing through left calf pain, countered with 22 points and set the tone with his aggressive style.
“Just tried to be as physical as possible,” Edwards explained after leading his team to victory.
LeBron James, who’s played more playoff games than anyone in NBA history, finished with 19 points and seemed unfazed by the loss. He’s been here before.
“Maybe it took us one playoff game to now get a feel for it and know what type of intensity, the type of physicality is going to be brought to the game,” said the 39-year-old superstar. “But that’s just the way they play. So we should be more than prepared for that on Tuesday night.”
At one point, Minnesota’s lead ballooned to 27 points before Jarred Vanderbilt helped the Lakers trim it to 16 in the third quarter.
Vanderbilt knows exactly what needs to change for Game 2.
“I think we got to be the aggressor,” he said. “I feel like they hit us first. And they were the more physical team for the majority of the game… It’s the playoffs, man.”
The Lakers will get their chance at redemption when they host Game 2 on Tuesday night.
