The Los Angeles Lakers attacked the Minnesota Timberwolves out of the gate in Sport 1 of their playoff sequence. After one quarter, the Timberwolves smacked them again approach tougher.
After Luka Doncic and the Lakers’ hot start , the Timberwolves surged within the second quarter and by no means seemed again in a 117-95 Sport 1 victory on Saturday. The Wolves led by 11 factors at halftime after Donte DiVincenzo‘s buzzer-beater 30-footer, then opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run to firmly seize command of the sport.
The Lakers rallied within the third quarter, however by no means obtained nearer than 12 factors for the ultimate 23:45 of Sport 1. Doncic scored 37 factors, however delivered solely a single help on an evening when his group had simply 15, in opposition to 13 turnovers. LeBron James scored 19 factors however had solely three assists.
Minnesota merely seemed sooner than the Lakers, getting 25 quick break factors. The Timberwolves broke a group playoff file by making 21 of their 42 threes. That is a bit fortunate, however a lot of these three-pointers had been broad open because the Lakers struggled to get out on shooters.
Anthony Edwards distributed the ball properly, logging 9 assists to go together with his 22 factors. Jaden McDaniels was remarkably environment friendly on offense, scoring 25 factors on 11-of-13 taking pictures and gathering 9 boards. The Lakers had no reply in any respect for Naz Reid, who scored 23 factors off the bench and made six triples.
Reid and the Timberwolves’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves, 43-13. The Lakers shot below 40 % as a group, and the reserves shot 26.3 %.
The Timberwolves’ strain protection is one thing the Lakers must clear up, however the problem they’ll instantly clear up is getting again on protection. After all, one option to cease quick breaks is to make your pictures so the opposite group cannot run.
Whereas the Timberwolves have seized home-court benefit, there’s a number of sequence to go. The Lakers are going to wish to play full video games to beat them.
