The Minnesota Timberwolves opened their NBA Western Conference playoff series with a commanding 117-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 25 points, while Naz Reid came off the bench with 23 points, sinking six of Minnesota’s franchise playoff-record 21 three-pointers. Anthony Edwards contributed 22 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists.
“I think we just came out ready to play,” said Edwards. “Everybody’s got to trust their work, trust themselves, and they did that tonight.”
Despite a 37-point performance from Luka Doncic in his playoff debut with the Lakers and 19 points from LeBron James, the Lakers couldn’t match Minnesota’s intensity. The Timberwolves took control in the second quarter and never looked back, leading by as many as 27.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick acknowledged Minnesota’s physical edge: “I thought our spirit was right… (But) when they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn’t respond immediately to that.”
The Lakers were the only home team to lose on the opening day of the playoffs.
In other games, Nikola Jokic powered the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110 in overtime with 29 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds. Russell Westbrook hit a key late three-pointer and disrupted a crucial inbounds play to help seal the win.
In New York, the Knicks erupted with a 21-0 run in the fourth quarter to beat the Detroit Pistons 123-112. Jalen Brunson scored 34 points, 23 of them in the second half.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers routed the Milwaukee Bucks 117-98 behind Pascal Siakam’s 25 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 36 points, but got little support from the rest of the Bucks’ starters.
