In the opening game of their playoff series, the Minnesota Timberwolves made a loud statement by dismantling the Los Angeles Lakers, 117-95, at Crypto.com Arena. While Luka Doncic poured his heart into an inspiring individual performance in his first playoff game in purple and gold, Minnesota’s well-rounded team effort stole the spotlight.
The Timberwolves established their dominance early and never looked back. The loss left the third-seeded Lakers trailing 0-1 in the series. The Lakers now face pressure heading into Game 2 as the Timberwolves have seized the early upper hand with energy and balance.
Minnesota Timberwolves Humble Lakers Despite Luka Doncic’s 37-Point Performance
Jaden McDaniels delivered a historic night, making franchise history in the process. The forward finished with 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including a flawless 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. He also added 9 rebounds and became the first Timberwolves player ever to score 25+ points on over 80% shooting in a playoff game.
Anthony Edwards put on a show despite the media’s focus leaning heavily toward the Lakers. He completed performance with 22 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds while making zero turnovers. Off the bench, Naz Reid brought an extra spark. Reid delivered 23 points, five rebounds, and two blocks on 8-of-12 shooting.
Minnesota takes Game 1 🔥
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 20, 2025
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Additionally, Julius Randle scored 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Mike Conley Jr. and Donte DiVincenzo both added nine points in the win.
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On the Lakers’ side, Doncic gave everything he had. The All-Star guard played 40 minutes and recorded a game-high 37 points, eight rebounds, and two steals, shooting 12-of-22 from the field and 5-of-10 from deep.
LeBron James contributed 19 points, five rebounds, and three blocks, but his efforts weren’t enough to shift the momentum. Austin Reaves had 16 points and three assists, while Rui Hachimura added just nine points. The rest of the Lakers’ rotation offered minimal impact. Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent both had three points.
