The addition of Luka Dončić to pair with LeBron James, resulting in a surprising third-place finish in the Western Conference for the Lakers, was designed to produce a smashing postseason debut, and it didn’t disappoint.
Sure enough, the Timberwolves did the smashing Saturday and sent disappointment throughout Crypto.com Arena with a 117-95 victory.
Was this unexpected? Perhaps so, if only because the star power and home-court advantage belonged to the Lakers. But in an instant, the latter advantage disappeared without much suspense in Game 1.
The Wolves snatched the lead in the second quarter and squeezed hard. They were up 11 points at halftime, doubled that lead two minutes into the third quarter, and ultimately built it to 27.
They were the better team and the more physical team, and if anything, the cold slap to the face should awaken the Lakers to the possibility that this will be a challenging series. The Wolves, after all, bring a determined Anthony Edwards — who showed just how badly he wants this — and experience after reaching last season’s Western Conference Finals.
So this is officially interesting, then.
1. Lakers ambushed, never recover
After assuming a seven-point first quarter lead, the middle quarters were brutal for the Lakers, who were outscored 53-27 at one point. Minnesota went on a surge and never looked back.
“They blitzed us in that second quarter,”James said.
Yes, it was fast and it was furious and it left the Lakers scrambling, searching in vain for answers.
“It was our defense,” Wolves forward Julius Randle said. “We blew the game open with our transition off stops.”
Which raises an issue for the Lakers — can they compete against a versatile defensive team that doesn’t get caught in very many mismatches?
The Wolves have the bodies to place in the path of LeBron, Luka and Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ three creators. James went scoreless in the first quarter and finished with a rather tame 19 points, while Reaves missed 8 of 13 shots.
2. Jaden McDaniels is a two-way problem
Luka worked harder against McDaniels than anyone else, not that this was unexpected. McDaniels is a ballhawk who usually makes opposing players uncomfortable. He has the wingspan and movement to check players on the perimeter and the height that allows him to stand tall in the paint.
His biggest plus, though, was offensively. That part of his game is still under construction — he averaged just 12 points and shot just 33% from deep this season — but occasionally will break 20 points. Like in Game 1.
Not only did he score 25 points, but whenever the Lakers left him open, he made them regret the strategy. McDaniels made all of three of his 3-pointers, taken from the corner, and shot 11-for-13 overall. He also had a game-high nine rebounds.
“I’ve seen him grow from Year One,” Reid said.
Said McDaniels: “It shows the versatility I have, the motivation I have, to guard the best player and to have an impact on the offensive end as well.”
When McDaniels can help a rather average offensive team generate points, then the defensive-minded Wolves are tough to beat. In Game 1, they couldn’t be beat.
3. Luka has hot start, little help
In his Laker playoff debut, Luka appeared determined to make it memorable. He had 20 points by halftime, then banked a half-court shot to end the third quarter and — temporarily — bring life back to the building.
But no other Laker scored 20 points. The biggest issue: L.A.’s bench was outscored 43-13 by Minnesota’s.
“I believe we have eight starter-caliber players,” said Finch.
The main concern about the Lakers dealt with their size issues — they have no high-quality big man — and the possibility of their role players failing to produce. And both were problematic Saturday. The Wolves had 12 more points in the paint and outrebounded L.A. by six.
Luka finished with 37 points and eight rebounds. He had only one assist, however, a shockingly low number for a player who distributes, but whose teammates didn’t carry their end of the deal for much of the night when he did pass the ball.
4. Edwards puts scare into Lakers, then Wolves
Whenever a player needs 22 shots to score 22 points, that normally doesn’t scream efficiency. But Edwards delivered much more than points, which is why his Game 1 impact was greater than what the scoring showed.
That’s because he did more than get buckets, adding nine assists and eight rebounds. “The best version of Ant,” Finch said, “is when he’s flirting with a triple double.”
He also flirted with injury when he grabbed his left leg with three minutes left in the third quarter and went straight to the locker room.
No problem — just a cramp. He returned in the fourth quarter, just as the Lakers showed a faint heartbeat, and helped finish the job.
“He was vocal, directing the team, showed great leadership,” Finch said. “And they listened.”
5. Wolves might be better with Naz Reid over Rudy Gobert
The Wolves were at their most impressive, and dominant, when Gobert was on the bench and Reid was swishing 3-pointers.
This doesn’t mean Minnesota will do something as drastic as replace Gobert in the starting lineup at center with Reid, the reigning Kia Sixth Man Award winner. But when the Wolves need buckets, it’s an easy call who should be on the floor. And if Gobert continues to get caught in switches that favor Doncic offensively, Reid should, and probably will, play more minutes.
Reid shot 6-for-9 from deep, scoring 23 points in 30 minutes. Plus, with Gobert hampered by foul problems — he was targeted by Luka on the game’s very first play and committed a foul — the Wolves don’t need to worry about those mismatches when Gobert’s not in the game.
Reid also represented a bench that was too much for the Lakers to handle.
“We got a good group of guys,” Edwards said. “It took us a minute to get going this season but now we’re rolling.”
### **6. Minnesota’s Physicality Set the Tone**
- The Timberwolves played with more aggression, outrebounding the Lakers **51-41** and winning the battle in the paint (**54-48**).
- **Rudy Gobert (12 pts, 15 reb, 2 blk)** controlled the glass and disrupted LA’s drives, forcing them into tough mid-range shots.
- The Lakers looked a step slow, particularly in transition defense—Minnesota capitalized with **21 fast-break points**.
### **7. Lakers’ Three-Point Defense Collapsed**
- Minnesota shot **45.5% from three (15/33)**, with **Conley (4/6), Towns (3/5), and Reid (2/4)** all hitting key shots.
- LA’s defensive rotations were late, leaving shooters wide open—especially in **corner threes**, where the Wolves shot **6/10**.
- **Adjustment Needed:** The Lakers must close out harder on shooters and avoid over-helping on drives.
### **8. Anthony Davis’ Dominance vs. Lack of Help**
- **AD (31 pts, 12 reb, 1 blk)** was unstoppable inside, but the Lakers didn’t leverage his gravity enough.
- **LeBron (27 pts, 8 ast, 6 reb)** deferred too much early, allowing Minnesota to build a lead.
- **Key Issue:** LA’s guards (**Russell 4/11, Vincent 0/3**) provided little offensive support. If they don’t step up, the Lakers will struggle to keep pace.
### **9. Wolves’ Defense Disrupted Lakers’ Flow**
- Minnesota’s length (Gobert, McDaniels, Reid) forced the Lakers into **18 turnovers**, leading to **24 points off mistakes**.
- **Austin Reaves (25 pts)** was a bright spot, but **D’Angelo Russell’s struggles** (just 13 pts, 4 TOs) hurt LA’s half-court offense.
- **Adjustment Needed:** The Lakers must simplify their sets—more P&R with AD, fewer risky passes.
### **10. Naz Reid’s X-Factor Performance**
- **Reid (12 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl)** provided a massive spark off the bench, stretching the floor and outplaying LA’s reserves.
- The Lakers’ bench (**Taurean Prince 0 pts, Spencer Dinwiddie 2 pts**) was a no-show—Minnesota’s depth could be a series-decider.
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### **What to Watch in Game 2**
✅ **Lakers’ Adjustments:**
- **More LeBron-AD pick-and-roll** to force mismatches.
- **Tighter perimeter defense**—no easy threes for Conley/Towns.
- **Bench production**—Dinwiddie, Prince, or Hayes must step up.
✅ **Timberwolves’ Keys to Repeat Success:**
- **Keep attacking in transition**—exploit LA’s aging defense.
- **Involve KAT early**—if he stays hot, the Lakers have no answer.
- **Stay disciplined defensively**—avoid foul trouble (Gobert had 4 PF).
### **Final Verdict**
If the Lakers don’t fix their **defensive breakdowns and bench woes**, Minnesota could take a **2-0 lead**. But if **LeBron and AD get more help**, this series will tighten quickly.
**Game 2 Prediction:** A closer game, but **Timberwolves win again** unless LA’s role players show up.
🔥 **Series Outlook:** Wolves in 5 if Lakers don’t adjust.