Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick urged the Minnesota Timberwolves sucker punched his group in Sport 1 on Saturday.
“It is to not say our guys weren’t prepared to resist a playoff-level basketball sport,” Redick informed the media following the 117-95 dwelling loss. “We had been mentally prepared. I assumed our spirit was proper. I assumed even after they made runs, our huddles had been nice. The communication was nice. I am undecided bodily we had been prepared.”
The Timberwolves began dominating early within the second quarter. Per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Minnesota outscored L.A. 67-33 from the beginning of the second quarter previous the halfway level of the third.
The Lakers cut the deficit to 96-84 early within the fourth quarter, however the comeback try proved futile.
“Actually, after they began enjoying with numerous thrust and physicality, we simply did not reply instantly to that,” Redick mentioned. “After which that stretch from the beginning of the second by way of four-to-five minutes to go within the third, we misplaced that stretch by 34. So, that is a blowout.”
In his postgame news conference, Lakers ahead LeBron James, who scored 19 factors in Sport 1, admitted they did not match the Timberwolves’ toughness however urged that should not be an issue in Sport 2 in L.A. on Tuesday.
“Possibly it took us one playoff sport to now get a really feel for it and know what kind of depth, the kind of physicality goes to be delivered to the sport,” James mentioned. “However that is simply the best way they play. So we needs to be greater than ready for that on Tuesday night time.”
As of Sunday, FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Timberwolves as the favourite (-138) to win the sequence. If the Lakers make mandatory changes in Sport 2, they might regain momentum following the embarrassing loss.
