Lakers Stunned: Timberwolves' Grit Overpowers LA in Game 1 Showdown

Here in the vibrant heart of Los Angeles, nestled amidst the hustle of the critical first round of NBA playoffs, something extraordinary happened on a Saturday night that sent shockwaves through the arena and, truth be told, left this weary sportswriter somewhat in a change of perspective. The Lakers, you see, had become a beacon of physical dominance and defensive prowess in the latter cascade of their season. Their games set a gritty, unyielding tone that often… well, let’s say, it more than hinted at their championship aspirations.

But folks, that Minnesota Timberwolves! They not only read that script—they tore it up in bold defiance, crafting a 117-95 victory at a Staples Center that was, to put it mildly, the site of an unexpected upset. The Timberwolves, with their physical rebuff and strategic defense, have now taken a commanding 1-0 lead in this fascinating series.

Lakers’ coach J.J. Redick, his cheeks hollowed perhaps by the sting of defeat, spoke candidly about that initial game. “We were mentally ready… I’m not sure that physically we were ready, if that makes sense,” he remarked with a tinge of wry humor, which I must admit, left me chuckling for a moment amidst the lament. With the Timberwolves playing with what can only be described as a ‘thrust and physicality’, the Lakers just couldn’t muster the immediate response that the flow of the game demanded.

As I sat contemplating this dynamic shift, the Minnesota defense’s dominance in Game 1 truly painted an image of resilience and readiness. Luka Doncic carved out a respectable 16 points in the first quarter, yet LeBron and Austin Reaves? They stumbled out with a mere 1-of-9 from the floor. Oh, the irony of watching LeBron James, a titan in his own domain, grappling with such unprecedented adversity.

The Timberwolves’ strategy, it seems, was twofold. Their defense was not merely about contesting shots; it was about controlling the game’s tempo. Julius Randle’s words have since echoed through my musings, pinning down exactly>A defense,” he stated, capturing the essence of the team’s tactic—a slow, grinding halt to their adversaries’ usual rhythm. Oh, if only every game could unfold with such strategic finesse.

Let’s delve a bit into lineup choices, shall we? The Lakers’ so-called ‘small’ lineup, formidable as it was against many opponents, found itself mismatched against Minnesota’s towering behemoth. The Timberwolves, with Rudy Gobert, Reid, McDaniels, and Randle, had size and then some. They played like a chessmaster moving pieces with a clear vision, outmatching and outmuscling.

The Lexus defense, as commendable as it was, seemed unprepared for the basketball ballet that unfolded. Anthony Edwards and Randle, in a syncopated rhythm, moved the ball with an almost preternatural fluidity, leaving open shooters to flourish. Jaden McDaniels led, a veritable conductor, while Naz Reid followed with a remarkable performance off the bench.

This, friends, is the real drama of the playoffs—a faceoff not merely of skill, but of spirit, strategy, and sheer human will. It’s a narrative ripe for the picking, telling the tale of underdogs, giants, and the unexpected turns of a sport we love so dearly. LEARN MORE

Los Angeles’ “small” lineup was their best the second half of the season and Redick leaned into it in Game 1 (starting center Jaxson Hayes played just eight minutes). However, those smaller lineups still featured 6’8″ LeBron and Rui Hachimura, plus 6’7″ Doncic and Dorian Finney-Smith. That was enough most nights. Not against Minnesota, one team that can match the Lakers’ size and even go bigger — they played a lot of 7’1″ Rudy Gobert, and the 6’9″ trio of Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle together.“He’s 6’11” and has everything that a person 6’2″ has in their game…” Edwards said of McDaniels. “We all trust him, one through 15, the coaches and the whole organization.”Tuesday night, expect a desperate Lakers team that knows they can’t go down 0-2 at home. The problem is that the Timberwolves present a big challenge. Literally.
Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 25 points, while Naz Reid had 23 off the bench, including six 3-pointers.

Minnesota’s defense made the Lakers work for everything, there were no easy drives into the paint, it felt like every shot was contested. Luka Doncic fought through that for 16 first-quarter points, but LeBron James and Austin Reaves opened the game 1-of-9 from the floor. It was during LeBron and Reaves’ shift with Doncic on the bench to start the second quarter that the Timberwolves took control of the game.“We were mentally ready… I’m not sure that physically we were ready, if that makes sense,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick said of his team getting pushed around in Game 1. “And really, when they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, like we just didn’t respond immediately to that.”The Lakers’ defense was loaded up to stop Anthony Edwards and Randle, but those two moved the ball quickly, and the Timberwolves trusted their other players to make plays. The result was that guys were getting into the paint at will, and when the defense collapsed, they found open shooters for 3-pointers.While Ant moved the ball and let the game come to him in the first half, in the second he attacked — and hunted Doncic.The Timberwolves led by 23 when Edwards went down after a drive, was slow to get up, then subbed himself out and went straight to the locker room with what he said postgame was a cramp. By the end of the third quarter, the Timberwolves’ lead was down to 16. By the time Edwards returned, that lead was down to 12.LOS ANGELES — When the Lakers have looked like a contender during the second half of the season, it was because they set the tone in games with their physicality and defense.Because of their defense and physical play, the Timberwolves are up 1-0 in this first-round series after a convincing 117-95 road win. They left the Lakers a lot of hard questions to answer before Game 2.Edwards’ return settled things down for Minnesota, and they pulled away for the win. As a team, the Timberwolves set a franchise playoff record with 21 3-pointers.Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 37 points.“It was really just our defense,” Julius Randle said. “Obviously, Luka, he got off to the hot start, hit a couple 3s, but once we were able to slow them down and really defend, we blew the game open, was able to be in transition a little bit.”Saturday night, the Minnesota flipped that script.