Anthony Edwards wasn’t surprised when the Minnesota Timberwolves delivered a powerful performance in their playoff opener, overwhelming Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers with talent and chemistry.
Jaden McDaniels led the charge with 25 points, while Naz Reid added 23, including six shots from beyond the arc. Their efforts helped Minnesota notch a commanding 117-95 win Saturday night, despite Doncic dropping 37 points in his postseason debut with the Lakers.
Edwards contributed 22 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in the win. For him, the team’s unity wasn’t a sudden revelation.
“I knew what we had back in training camp,” Edwards said. “It just took a little time for everyone to click. Now we’re rolling.”
Minnesota, the sixth seed, has won 18 of its last 22 games and showcased their momentum by outscoring the Lakers 38-20 in the second quarter, turning the tide after Doncic came out blazing with 16 points in the first.
The Wolves didn’t let up after halftime either. Both Julius Randle and Edwards knocked down four 3-pointers each, helping the team set a franchise playoff record with 21 threes on 42 attempts — many of which came with minimal defensive pressure.
“It’s just Game 1,” said head coach Chris Finch. “It’s going to be a long series. We don’t expect the next one to look like this. There’s still a lot we can clean up and improve.”
LeBron James, playing in his 18th postseason, scored 19 points, but the Lakers were unable to match Minnesota’s firepower or composure.
“This Minnesota squad is physical. That’s their identity,” James said. “We have to be ready for that. They took homecourt from us, but we’ve got to focus on what we can control and get back on track.”
The Lakers are still working to find rhythm after the midseason acquisition of Doncic, while Minnesota looks poised to build on last year’s trip to the Western Conference finals.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is set for Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Despite the loss, Doncic showed his usual scoring prowess — his 37-point outing was the 11th highest playoff performance of his career. But he admitted the team lost its edge after a strong start.
“We came out physical and focused in the first quarter,” Doncic said. “But after that, we lost our intensity. We’ve got to bring more physicality next game.”
