After a season of strategic strikes and calculated dangers, the Los Angeles Lakers discover themselves with a giant benefit heading into their first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
When the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic, they knew they have been getting a celebrity.
What they couldn’t have anticipated was how invaluable Doncic’s expertise in opposition to sure opponents would grow to be in preparation for the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
With a Lakers-Timberwolves first-round matchup, Doncic’s spectacular historical past in opposition to Minnesota is introduced into sharp focus.
Throughout his time with the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic dominated the Timberwolves within the playoffs, averaging 32.4 factors, 9.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and a couple of.2 steals per recreation, through StatMuse.
Luka vs Minnesota within the playoffs:
32.4 PPG
9.6 RPG
8.2 APG
2.2 SPG
43.4 3P%What number of will he common this postseason? pic.twitter.com/JAbLaxahYK
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 15, 2025
Maybe most impressively, he shot 43.4 % from 3-point vary in these video games.
This represents a sample of excellence that might show essential within the upcoming collection.
Doncic’s capacity to learn Minnesota’s defensive schemes and exploit its weaknesses has been constant all through his profession.
He now brings this institutional data to a Lakers crew hungry for playoff success.
Los Angeles had loads of alternatives to review Minnesota this season, from preseason encounters to a gap evening battle.
The common season collection led to a draw, although it’s value noting that solely a kind of 4 video games featured Doncic in a Lakers uniform.
That ultimate contest ended with a convincing Lakers victory, probably foreshadowing what’s to return.
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