LOS ANGELES — The stage was set for the Lakers to kick off the playoffs in a memorable manner.
Areas near and leading to the Lakers’ locker room were redecorated with purple playoff signage.
Golden T-shirts with the Lakers’ playoff slogan “Unleash Joy” were on every seat for every fan inside Crypto.com Arena – the first time the Lakers have opened a first-round playoff series in Los Angeles since April 2012.
But by the time those same fans got back to their seats shortly after halftime, the Lakers were close to being run out of the gym, eventually falling to the Timberwolves, 117-95, in a Game 1 matchup they trailed by as much as 27.
Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
“They’re a great opponent,” Coach JJ Redick. “They’re one of the best in basketball. It’s not to our guys weren’t ready to withstand a playoff-level basketball game. We were mentally ready. I thought our spirit was right. I thought even when they made runs, our huddles were great. The communication was great.
“I’m not sure physically we were ready, if that makes sense. When they started playing with a lot of thrusts and physicality, we just didn’t respond immediately to that.”
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 37 points on 12-of-22 shooting (5 for 10 from 3-point range) and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Lakers from losing home-court advantage to begin the best-of-seven series. Game 2 is Tuesday night.
The sixth-seeded Timberwolves knocked down a franchise playoff-record 21 3-point shots – shooting a blistering 50% from behind the arc – and overwhelmed the third-seeded Lakers with their physical play, shot-making and veteran poise.
“They just physically beat us from the get-go,” Austin Reaves said. “Neither team has played in a week or so, but they came out with a little more aggression and physicality to their game that helped them win. That’s really it.”
Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid (23 points, five rebounds off the bench) led the Timberwolves with six 3-pointers.
All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards (22 points, nine assists, eight rebounds) shot 4 for 9 from long range, while Jaden McDaniels, who led the Timberwolves with 25 points and nine rebounds, made all three of his attempts from behind the arc.
LeBron James finished with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Reaves had 16 points (5-of-13 shooting), but both of the Lakers’ stars had slow starts.
And the Timberwolves took advantage – not only of James’ and Reaves’ slow starts, but the Lakers regularly left shooters wide open while prioritizing protecting the paint.
“Have to go look back at every one,” Redick said, “but I know number of those on came in transition, [and] offensive rebounds.”
The Timberwolves weathered a 16-point first quarter from Doncic, then made 15 3-pointers during the second and third, when they turned what had been a seven-point deficit after one period into an 88-61 lead midway through the third.
“They were hitting a lot of 3s,” Doncic said. “We gotta limit their 3s, especially their lasers. And we weren’t physical. They were running. They were getting anything they [wanted]. And we gotta be better than that.”
The Lakers’ cut their deficit to 12 multiple times with the help of improved physicality and energy, but couldn’t get any closer.
“You know when you play Minnesota, they’re going to be physical,” James said. “That’s what they bring to the table. So maybe maybe it took us one playoff game to get a feel for it and know the type of intensity and type of physicality that’s going to be brought to the game. That’s just the way they play. So we should be more than prepared for that on Tuesday night.”
Minnesota, which won for the 18th time in its past 22 games, scored 25 fast-break points and 23 second-chance points.
“That’s hard to overcome,” Redick said. “Particularly when a team is shooting like they were shooting.”