Dave McMenaminApr 20, 2025, 02:06 AM ET
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- Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
- Coated the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
LOS ANGELES — After pushing themselves within the play-in event the previous two years simply to qualify for the postseason, the Los Angeles Lakers relished the danger to earn every week off main into Recreation 1 to arrange for his or her first-round collection towards the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The damage may have allowed gamers to heal minor accidents and the training workforce to dive into technique, however what was once transparent after L.A.’s 117-95 loss to the Wolves on Saturday was once that the Lakers have been wholly unready for the uncooked, bruising physicality that Minnesota performed with.
“It isn’t to mention our guys were not able to resist a playoff-level basketball sport. … I am not certain bodily we have been able,” Lakers trainer JJ Redick stated. “And actually when [the Wolves] began taking part in with numerous thrust and physicality, we simply did not reply to satisfy that.”
Mentioned Lakers guard Austin Reaves: “I feel that they simply bodily beat us from the get-go.”
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From the beginning of the second one quarter previous the halfway level of the 3rd, the Wolves outscored the Lakers 67-33 as Minnesota’s plus-sized frontline of 7-1 Rudy Gobert, 6-9 Jaden McDaniels and 6-9 Julius Randle managed the forums, pressured L.A. turnovers and usually dictated the sport glide with their defensive presence. Luka Doncic stated L.A. “let cross of the rope.”
LeBron James, who has performed in probably the most playoff video games in NBA historical past (together with probably the most Recreation 1s), chalked it up as a pricey access price for his group to understand what to anticipate within the collection.
“Possibly it took us one playoff sport to now get a really feel for it and know what form of depth, the kind of physicality goes to be delivered to the sport,” James stated after completing with 19 issues. “However that is simply the best way they play. So we will have to be greater than ready for that on Tuesday evening [in Game 2].”
L.A., led by way of Doncic scoring 16 of his game-high 37 issues within the first quarter, have been the aggressors early, with Doncic drawing two fouls on Gobert, a bad on McDaniels and every other one on Wolves’ megastar Anthony Edwards within the opening body.
As Doncic were given going, L.A.’s different offensive threats in James and Reaves have been sluggish to discover a rhythm as Doncic’s assaults generated pictures for himself, reasonably than teammates. “I simply attempted to set the tone early,” Doncic stated. “However clearly, one lend a hand, that is not excellent sufficient for me.”
Edwards, who scored 22 issues in spite of cramping in his left calf, stated the Wolves attempted to straddle the road between pushing the limits in organising what sort of touch can be allowed by way of the referees, whilst no longer discovering themselves in foul hassle.
“Simply attempted to be as bodily as conceivable,” Edwards stated. “The primary factor for us was once, we did not need them to get into the bonus early. As a result of … you spot a pair unfastened throws cross in, Luka will get right into a rhythm, Bron will get right into a rhythm.”
L.A. took 16 unfastened throws in comparison to 11 for Minnesota.
Simply two mins into the second one part, Redick benched beginning middle Jaxson Hayes. What the Lakers gave up in measurement with out the 7-footer out at the court docket, Redick was hoping he may achieve in process from going small by way of depending on wings Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt to fit in on the 5.
Vanderbilt had some good fortune, serving to L.A. lower the deficit from 27 to 16 within the ultimate 4 mins of the 3rd quarter. The nearest the Lakers were given was once 12 with 10:27 final prior to the Wolves driven their lead again to over 20.
“I feel we were given to be the aggressor,” Vanderbilt stated of Recreation 2. “I think like they hit us first. And so they have been the extra bodily group for almost all of the sport. … It is the playoffs, guy. We were given to play onerous. I feel they have been beating us to all of the 50-50 balls and offensive rebounds, the free balls. Simply the whole lot, they have been successful that struggle. And I feel within the playoffs, the more difficult group that wins that struggle wins the sport.”
When L.A. wasn’t getting punished within, the Wolves have been presenting issues at the perimeter, atmosphere a postseason franchise report by way of hitting 21-of-42 3-point makes an attempt. McDaniels (25 issues, together with 3-for-3 from 3) and Naz Reid (23 issues, together with 6-for-9 on 3s) have been in particular devastating.
And now the Lakers say they know what to anticipate — with most effective two days off this time prior to tipping off Tuesday.
“It was once a super surroundings,” Doncic stated. “I am sorry we could not get the win — the primary win. However it is all the time first to 4.”
