The Minnesota Timberwolves made a statement Saturday night with a dominant 117-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Wolves were faced with several questions entering the series, and they provided a lot of answers Saturday night. It was an impressive performance up and down the lineup, and there were no shortage of things that stood out in the game.
Franchise star Anthony Edwards exited in the third quarter with what appeared to be cramps after landing awkwardly on a driving jump shot. He immediately ran to the locker room, sparking concern in the NBA world. However, Edwards returned to contribute significantly, finishing with 22 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. His decision-making was particularly commendable, as he didn’t force shots, played within the flow of the game, and defended at a high level. His plus-minus of plus-21 was the second best in the game.
Teammate Naz Reid also faced a scare after suffering a head injury in the fourth quarter due to a collision with Lakers forward Jared Vanderbilt. Reid was taken to the locker room but returned after a brief absence, quickly sinking a three-pointer to help maintain Minnesota's momentum. Reid finished the game with 23 points, including six 3-pointers, and contributed five rebounds and two assists.
Jaden McDaniels was another standout for the Timberwolves, scoring 25 points and grabbing nine rebounds. He and Reid combined for an astonishing shooting performance, going 19 for 25 (76%) from the field, including 9 for 12 (75%) from beyond the arc. The Timberwolves made a franchise playoff-record 21 three-pointers on 42 attempts, showcasing their offensive prowess.
Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled to keep up with the red-hot Timberwolves. Los Angeles led after the first quarter, 28-21, but faltered in the second, where Minnesota took control with a stunning 38-20 run. Luka Doncic, making his playoff debut for the Lakers, scored a game-high 37 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Wolves’ shooting barrage. LeBron James finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Austin Reaves added 16 points.
The Timberwolves' strong performance in the second quarter was crucial. After trailing by seven points at the end of the first quarter, they outscored the Lakers significantly and went into halftime with a comfortable lead. Minnesota showcased their playoff experience, executing their game plan effectively against a Lakers team still searching for chemistry after acquiring Doncic two months ago.
Defensively, the Timberwolves implemented various matchups to contain the Lakers' star duo. McDaniels was tasked with guarding Doncic, while Edwards often switched onto James, demonstrating the Wolves' versatility on defense. Despite Doncic's scoring, they managed to limit James and Reaves, who shot just 5-for-13 combined.
As the game progressed, Minnesota’s confidence grew, and they built a lead as large as 26 points in the third quarter. Although the Lakers made a late push, trimming the deficit to 12 points, the Timberwolves held on for a convincing victory, marking their 18th win in their last 22 games.
Looking ahead, Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will aim to bounce back and even the series. The Timberwolves, eager to improve on last season’s run to the Western Conference finals, will look to carry their momentum into the next game and take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
