Final season, the Minnesota Timberwolves heard how they’d no probability of beating the Phoenix Suns of their first-round sequence.
Minnesota swept the Suns after which despatched the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets residence earlier than it will definitely misplaced to the Dallas Mavericks within the Western Convention finals.
Then, as this season’s first-round sequence in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers approached, comparable feedback had been circulating. Few folks had been giving the Timberwolves an opportunity to take down LeBron James, Luka Doncic and mates.
Properly, Minnesota nonetheless confirmed up for Sport 1 in Los Angeles — however the Lakers certain didn’t.
Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95.
Minnesota outscored Los Angeles by 29 factors over the ultimate three quarters. The Timberwolves had been extremely bodily, and the Lakers didn’t reply.
The sport was so one-sided that Lakers legend Magic Johnson trashed the staff on social media and likewise bashed coach JJ Redick for his lack of changes.
When a homer just like the Magic Man rips the staff, you recognize it was one ugly efficiency.
Minnesota wrestled homecourt benefit away by holding the Lakers to 39.8% capturing. Jaden McDaniels had 25 factors on 11-of-13 capturing along with his traditional suffocating protection.
Naz Reid drilled six 3-pointers whereas scoring 23 factors off the bench. Los Angeles’ bench mixed for simply 13 whole factors.
Research the competition deeper, and you recognize that is must-win territory Tuesday evening for the Lakers.
If Los Angeles falls behind 0-2, will probably be a tricky highway — as Anthony Edwards will go off for 35 or 40 factors a number of instances earlier than this sequence concludes.
Despite the fact that notion favors the Lakers, Minnesota was one of many hottest groups within the NBA down the stretch.
The Timberwolves had been simply three video games over .500 when March started earlier than a torrid 17-4 ending kick. Minnesota completed with 49 victories, only one fewer than the Lakers.
Edwards delivered his traditional stable performances and Rudy Gobert stepped up his protection and rebounding. Offseason acquisition Julius Randle appeared extra snug, whereas guys like Reid and Donte DiVincenzo delivered off the bench.
McDaniels is likely one of the league’s prime defensive gamers, and veteran Mike Conley, a former stalwart, has totally accepted a complementary function the place his intelligence is rather more necessary to the operation than his scoring capability.
Throw in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Minnesota is eight-deep with out a lot drop-off. You don’t want an even bigger rotation within the postseason, and the Timberwolves are able to go to warfare with this group.
In fact, making ready for Sport 2 is paramount. The Lakers want that recreation earlier than the sequence strikes to Minneapolis.
“We all know it’s going to be an extended sequence,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch stated. “We’re not underneath any assumption that it’s going to be this sort of recreation in Sport 2. It’ll be a very completely different recreation.”
Minnesota was 21 of 42 from 3-point vary, with most of the photographs being of the wide-open selection.
Los Angeles acquired 37 factors from Doncic and 58 from the remainder of the staff. In fact, Doncic had troubles on protection in Sport 1, so absolutely Mavericks common supervisor Nico Harrison was glad to see that unfold after repeatedly making thinly veiled feedback about “protection wins championships” as his justification for unloading Doncic.
James wasn’t all that spry in Sport 1, scoring 19 factors with solely three assists. Los Angeles wants a big-time effort from LBJ if it’s going to even the sequence Tuesday.
The Lakers have Austin Reaves to associate with James and Doncic, however their frontcourt is skinny for the reason that commerce of Anthony Davis to Dallas. There aren’t sufficient horses up entrance to make a respectable championship run, so their three primary scorers have to click on each evening.
It additionally permits Gobert to cheat on protection with out concern of it resulting in a simple Los Angeles basket.
While you break down the rosters, that is a good sequence — regardless of all of the “Lakers have the sting” chatter.
The groups break up the four-game regular-season sequence, with the house staff successful every time.
The Timberwolves broke by means of in Sport 1, and one other win Tuesday would set the stage for an additional first-round sequence win.
Maybe the Lakers are the staff in hassle.