The Minnesota Timberwolves, fueled by 25 points from Jaden McDaniels, cruised past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 117-95 on Saturday in game one of their NBA Western Conference playoff series.
Luka Doncic, playing his first post-season game with the Lakers after arriving in a stunning February trade, scored 37 points, and James, chasing a fifth title in his 22nd NBA season added 19 after shaking off a slow start that saw him go scoreless in the first quarter.
But the Lakers were no match for the T’Woves, who trailed by seven after the first quarter, took control in the second and never let up to score the first blow in the best-of-seven series.
Naz Reid scored 23 points off the bench — drilling six of Minnesota’s franchise playoff-record 21 three-pointers.
Anthony Edwards added 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Minnesota, who led by as many as 27.
A 10-0 Lakers run cut the deficit to 88-71 in the third quarter, but the Timberwolves had an answer for every Lakers run.
“I think we just came out ready to play,” said Edwards, who had advised his teammates before the game to come out “ready to fight”.
“Everybody’s got to trust their work, trust themselves, and they did that tonight,” he said.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said his team was “mentally ready” but didn’t respond to Minnesota’s physicality.
“I thought our spirit was right,” Redick said. “I thought even when they made runs our huddles were great, the communication was great.
“(But) when they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn’t respond immediately to that,” he added.
The Lakers were the only home team to lose on the opening day of first-round action.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
