Finally! The Los Angeles Lakers, who had lost game 1 in brutal fashion, bounced back in game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, to even the series 1-1 in their highly physical Western Conference quarterfinals matchup. However, that much-needed victory is because of the Wolves’ ugly overall performance.
Lakers Taming the Raging Wolves in Game 2 With Physicality
The Lakers-Wolves duel turned out to be one of the most physical matchups in this year’s playoffs. Game 1 showed us a glimpse of how terrifying Minnesota can be, but come game 2, they completely got manhandled by the Lakers trio.
The Wolves’ offense dried out in game 2 after an excellent first game in the best-of-seven series. From making it rain in game 1–sinking 22 triples–to just making 5 of their 24 attempts from downtown in the following match. Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jaden McDaniels combined for an unsettling 1-of-13 from three. However, what made it worse for the Wolves was how they destroyed their own rhythm with their own antics.
First, Reid was called for a technical foul, following an action deemed by the refs as a technical foul. Then, Julius Randle missed an opportunity to cut the deficit to 9 when he hit LeBron James in the face, resulting in the disqualification of his layup. They were playing physical and dirty, such as McDaniels intentionally tripping Luka, but the Lakers responded with the same energy, maybe even more.
Randle scored 27 points on top of 6 assists and 4 rebounds, while Anthony Edwards went for 25 points and 6 rebounds but surprisingly didn’t make a single assist.
Luka, LeBron, and Reaves Putting Wolves on Their Heels Since Tipoff
Los Angeles wasn’t shooting much better, but they were already playing tough from the get-go.
The Lakers were already holding on to a 16-point lead at halftime and continued with the same pursuit in the second half, not even allowing the Timberwolves within less than double-digits.
Luka Doncic already had 22, 5, and 5 in the first half, making him the third Laker to ever record 20+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in a playoff half. The Slovenian superstar joins Anthony Davis (2020) and Kobe Bryant (2004), all of whom won the NBA championship the year they achieved that feat.
At the end of the game, stats show the Luka-LeBron-Austin trio scored 68 of the Lakers’ 94 total points.
Doncic had another insane game. The 26-year-old All-Star was just an assist shy of another playoff triple-double after going for 31 points, 9 assists, and 12 rebounds. Meanwhile, LeBron James held his own by putting up 21 points, 7 dimes, and 11 boards in playoff game number 289. Reaves had 16, 5, and 5.
Game 3 will be played in Minneapolis, where the atmosphere will be gruelling with extreme intensity, considering this is what the Timberwolves’ fanbase has been dreaming of for the past 20 years–a chance at the NBA Finals.
