The Los Angeles Lakers attacked the Minnesota Timberwolves out of the gate in Recreation 1 of their playoff sequence. After one quarter, the Timberwolves smacked them again approach more durable.
After Luka Doncic and the Lakers’ hot start , the Timberwolves surged within the second quarter and by no means appeared again in a 117-95 Recreation 1 victory on Saturday. The Wolves led by 11 factors at halftime after Donte DiVincenzo‘s buzzer-beater 30-footer, then opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run to firmly seize command of the sport.
The Lakers rallied within the third quarter, however by no means received nearer than 12 factors for the ultimate 23:45 of Recreation 1. Doncic scored 37 factors, however delivered solely a single help on an evening when his group had simply 15, towards 13 turnovers. LeBron James scored 19 factors however had solely three assists.
Minnesota merely appeared sooner than the Lakers, getting 25 fast-break factors. The Timberwolves broke a group playoff document by making 21 of their 42 threes. That is a little bit fortunate, however a lot of these three-pointers have been extensive open because the Lakers struggled to get out on shooters.
Anthony Edwards distributed the ball nicely, logging 9 assists to go together with his 22 factors. Jaden McDaniels was remarkably environment friendly on offense, scoring 25 factors on 11-of-13 taking pictures and amassing 9 boards. The Lakers had no reply in any respect for Naz Reid, who scored 23 factors off the bench and made six triples.
Reid and the Timberwolves’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves, 43-13. The Lakers shot underneath 40 p.c as a group, and the reserves shot 26.3 p.c.
The Timberwolves’ stress protection is one thing the Lakers must resolve, however the concern they will instantly clear up is getting again on protection. After all, one option to cease quick breaks is to make your photographs so the opposite group cannot run.
Whereas the Timberwolves have seized home-court benefit, there’s numerous sequence to go. The Lakers are going to want to play full video games to beat them.
