In the opening game of the NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers faced a resounding 117-95 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels didn’t hold back in his post-game assessment, highlighting the Lakers’ lack of interior defense. He pointed out that when Lakers center Jaxson Hayes was off the court, he felt unchallenged near the rim, stating, “If [Jaxson Hayes] isn’t out there, I’m basically the tallest person out there. I don’t think no one can really rim protect me because Jaxson Hayes wasn’t on the court.”
The Lakers’ decision to trade Anthony Davis for Luka Dončić has left them vulnerable in the paint, a weakness the Timberwolves exploited. Minnesota’s Naz Reid capitalized on this, going 4-for-4 from three-point range during a dominant 26-6 run in the second quarter. Coach JJ Redick acknowledged the team’s physical shortcomings, admitting, “I’m not sure physically we were ready… we just didn’t respond immediately to that.”
Despite the setback, the Lakers remain optimistic. Guard Austin Reaves emphasized the series’ format, noting, “You never lose the series after the first game… you got to get beat four times or you got to win four times.” The team aims to regroup and adjust ahead of Game 2, hoping to counter the Timberwolves’ physical dominance and even the series.
