After a tough loss in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series, JJ Redick entered Game 2 with clear determination to flip the script. His intensity and no-nonsense approach paid off Tuesday night, as the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 94-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena and evened the series 1-1.
Redick’s passion was on full display during a chaotic stretch in the third quarter. With the Lakers holding an 11-point lead, Minnesota quickly cut into the gap with a 7-0 run. The Lakers’ offense fell into disarray, with players out of sync and visibly confused during a failed set play. That was the breaking point for Redick.
The first-year head coach didn’t hold back. He furiously called a timeout while unleashing a fiery rant that could be heard throughout the arena.
“Time out. What the f**k is going on. Time out. Jesus f**king Christ, the f**k are you guys doing. Come on!” Redick shouted.
JJ Redick:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 23, 2025
“Jesus fu*king Christ what the fu*k are you guys doing.”
(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)
pic.twitter.com/MBIRDc9fLb
Even Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards couldn’t help but mock-cheer from the opposing side, yelling, “Yeah JJ, yeah!” as Redick tore into his team.
But the outburst had its intended effect. After the timeout, the Lakers tightened their defense and expanded their lead to over 20 points. Redick’s urgency brought order to the chaos.
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JJ Redick Weighs In On Lakers’ Offense After Game 2 win
In the postgame press conference, JJ Redick acknowledged their offensive struggles. He also highlighted the team’s overall commitment to the game plan.
“I don’t know what our turnover total [was]. I know we had at least one shot clock violation there in the fourth. Again, we’re going to live with that process and that result. I think it’s fair to say we won the game with our defense tonight, but our offense had a lot to do with that — not allowing them to get out in transition,” Redick said.
Now 1-1 in the series, Redick has not only steadied his team, he’s beginning to silence doubters who once questioned the Lakers’ bold decision to hire him. His leadership is proving to be exactly what the Lakers need in their postseason pursuit.
