It’s kind of a big surprise, but not entirely impossible how the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to steal game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers in round 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Many fans were baffled how the Purple and Gold let this one get away, but there’s only three things that thoroughly explains their devastating loss.
No Anthony Davis Means Catastrophe
Last season, the Phoenix Suns dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the regular season. However, during the playoffs, the scoring trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal didn’t even sniff a single playoff win, resulting to a terrible first round sweep.
This time around, it seems like it’s about to happen again if the Lakers don’t do a quick fix to their biggest issue right now—missing a star center.
Against a more physical, taller, and bigger Wolves, the Lakers need to work on their frontcourt now that Anthony Davis is gone. Jaxson Hayes is good, but he’s got no good backup yet. In game 1, it was clear how big the disparity was in the paint. The Wolves outrebounded the Lakers, 44-38, which resulted to tons of fastbreak or second chance points. They also had way more points in the paint (44-32). In addition, Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and Juliius Randle took turns in attacking the basket, which is catastrophic for a defensive lineup featuring Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.
Wolves’ Hot Shooting Too Much for Lakers
Looking at their stats, it’s already obvious that the Wolves were shooting extremely well. Miles better than their opponent. Through 48 minutes, the 6th-seeded Wolves were making it rain from downtown, making 21 of their 42 attempts from the three-point line. Jaden McDaniels (3-for-3) and Naz Reid (6-for-9), the reigning 6th Man of the Year, both lit it up inside the Crypto arena.
Even Anthony Edwards (4-for-9) and Julius Randle (4-for-6) were just cooking the Lakers’ wing defenders. Their three-point shooting eventually became the ultimate reason why they ended the game with a 22-point deficit, 117-95.
Luka Needs Help
Last year, Luka punished this same Timberwolves team. However, they’re a bit different this season with the addition of Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. In context, the Lakers were up big in the first period against the Timberwolves, 28-21, thanks to Luka’s 16 first quarter points. However, that would be the only time they’ll hold a lead throughout the game.
Doncic would finish the game with 37 points, 8 rebounds, but only 1 assist, which is quite odd for someone who’s so good at playmaking. His single dime means that his teammates aren’t converting his passes. Aside from Luka Magic, no other Laker player scored more than 20 points. Well, LeBron James still had 19 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds despite going scoreless in the first quarter for the very first time (which is both historic and troublesome).
Come game 2, every other Laker should step up in order to keep up with Minnesota’s physicality. LeBron isn’t 28 and Luka surely won’t be able to sustain this kind of performance in seven games.
Still, it’s a long series ahead and one game wouldn’t shake off a 40-year-old LeBron James who’s been in this stage for two decades. Regardless, it’s a scary thought for Lakers fans how the Timberwolves did a demolition against a 50-win team.
