The opening day of the 2025 NBA Playoffs brought its first big surprise as the Minnesota Timberwolves handed the Los Angeles Lakers a decisive 117–95 defeat in Game 1 of their first-round matchup. After taking control early in the second quarter, the Timberwolves never looked back, maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the second half.
Minnesota dominated both ends of the floor, setting the tone with their physical, high-energy play—a level of intensity the Lakers admitted they weren’t ready for.
“They’re one of the best teams in basketball,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said postgame. “It’s not that we weren’t mentally prepared. Our spirit was right, and the communication in our huddles was solid. But physically? I’m not sure we were ready for what they brought.”
Lakers guard Austin Reaves echoed the sentiment:
“They just physically beat us from the start.”
Timberwolves Set the Tone Early
The Wolves outworked the Lakers in several key categories:
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Rebounds: 44–38
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Points in the paint: 44–32
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Second-chance points: 23–20
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Turnovers forced: 13 (compared to the Lakers’ 10)
Their size and strength gave them a clear edge, especially in the frontcourt. Minnesota’s deep, athletic rotation overwhelmed a Lakers team that has leaned into small-ball lineups since trading for Luka Dončić earlier in the season.
Center Concerns Surface for L.A.
For the first time since the Dončić trade, the Lakers’ lack of a reliable big man was fully exposed. Jaxson Hayes, their only traditional center, started the game but logged just eight minutes. The Timberwolves capitalized on this mismatch in the paint, wearing the Lakers down over the course of the game.
Despite boasting playoff veterans like LeBron James and Luka Dončić, the Lakers looked outmatched in Game 1—not just on the scoreboard, but in terms of intensity.
LeBron: “We’ll Be Ready”
LeBron James, who finished with 19 points on 18 shots in a rare off night, remained confident after the loss.
“Maybe it took us one playoff game to feel what kind of intensity and physicality they bring,” James said. “But that’s just how they play. We’ll be more than prepared for that Tuesday night.”
With Game 2 set for Tuesday, the Lakers have little time to regroup—but with two of the most accomplished postseason performers in the league on their roster, it would be premature to count them out.
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