After a 50-win regular season under first-year head coach JJ Redick, the Los Angeles Lakers opened up the first round of the NBA playoffs at home as the No. 3 seed against the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.
This was a good opportunity for the Lakers to make a statement in Game 1 on Saturday night, as some fans think this team can make a deep playoff run with LeBron James and Luka Doncic leading the charge.
However, the Timberwolves had other ideas as they were not scared of the moment and did not back down to the Lakers.
The T’Wolves defeated the Lakers, 117-95, thanks to a dominant performance from three-point range, which Los Angeles did not have an answer for. Minnesota shot 21-of-42 from beyond the arc.
The Lakers also didn’t have an answer for the Timberwolves’ physicality as Minnesota won the points in the paint battle (44-32) and on the glass (44-38). The Lakers also got hammered in fast break points (25-6).
After Saturday night’s shocking loss, Lakers superstar LeBron James immediately talked about how his team might’ve needed to feel and understand the intensity in the playoffs. However, he also said that the Lakers should be better prepared for battle in Game 2.
"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, James said (h/t Dave McMenamin of ESPN). But that's just the way they play. So we should be more than prepared for that on Tuesday night [in Game 2]."
During Saturday night’s broadcast, Redick mentioned that his team’s physicality and effort were described as “regular season” to start.
Doncic, who scored a game-high 37 points in Game 1’s blowout loss, also mentioned that the Lakers’ physicality must be better in Game 2.
"We have to be more physical," Doncic said (h/t Lakers beat reporter Mike Trudell), adding that Los Angeles "let go of the rope," after jumping out to an early seven-point lead.
Doncic said the Lakers opened the game playing the way the Lakers play, which produced a 7-point lead. Then they “let go of the rope,” and that won’t cut it in the playoffs.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 20, 2025
“We have to be more physical,” he added, for all 48 minutes.
Many people wondered how this new-look Lakers team would fare in the NBA playoffs against a squad like Minnesota, which has two post players in the starting lineup (Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert) and Naz Reid off the bench.
The Lakers failed the first test in Game 1. The Timberwolves did whatever they wanted and whenever. They crashed the boards, drove into the paint without fear, and got those 50/50 balls, which all makes a difference in the playoffs.
That said, Lakers fans hope the team will give a better effort and play with a sense of urgency on Tuesday night, as they can’t afford to go down 2-0 to start the series.