Scoring accuracy and physicality helped the Minnesota Timberwolves defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 117-95 in game one of the NBA Playoffs first round.
Guard Luka Doncic led all scorers with 37 points and led the Lakers with eight rebounds. Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels led with 25 points and nine rebounds.
The Lakers came out strong, scoring seven three-point shots and 11 second-chance points in the first quarter. Minnesota battled back in the second phase, shooting from the three-point line at 50 percent.
The T-Wolves found ways to make uncontested three-point shots. One target was center Naz Reid who landed four three-pointers in the second phase. He ultimately came off the bench with 23 points in the contest.
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“The start of their run was transition and second chance,” Redick said. “That’s hard to overcome, particularly when a team is shooting like they were shooting.”
The Timberwolves found a 12-2 run in the first four minutes of the second quarter. Forward LeBron James led the offense and also secured a chase-down block. Yet Reid and McDaniels continued to find ways to score.
“We got to play hard,” said Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt. “I think they was beating us to all the 50/50 balls, offensive rebounds, the loose balls.”
Minnesota managed the pace with 25 fast break points while landing 21 threes.
“We got to do a better job of controlling the controllables, I don’t think we did a good enough job after the first quarter,” James said. “We have to do a better job of closing the bodies, getting out on shooters.”
The Lakers struggled to share the ball, only securing 15 assists compared to the 29 that Minnesota made.
“They want to play hard every single possession offensively, defensively, they’re gonna be physical,” said guard Austin Reaves. “We have to do a better job defensive rebounding, giving too many.”
Starting center Jaxson Hayes only saw eight minutes of playing time and sat out most of the second half. Minnesota also got an 18-point benefit from 13 turnovers by the Lakers.
“We got to be way more physical, it’s 48 minutes and every possession matters,” Doncic said. “They were hitting a lot of threes, especially their lazers.”
The Lakers will battle the T-Wolves in game two on April 22, at 7:00P.M.
