Physical Minnesota Timberwolves muscle past Los Angeles Lakers 117-95 in play-off opener

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick admitted that his team may not have been “physically ready” for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who cruised past them 117-95 on April 19 in Game 1 of their National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference play-off series while fuelled by 25 points from Jaden McDaniels.

Luka Doncic, playing his first post-season game with the Lakers after arriving in a stunning February trade, scored 37 points, and LeBron James, chasing a fifth title in his 22nd NBA season, added 19 after shaking off a slow start that saw him go scoreless in the first quarter.

But the Lakers were no match for the Timberwolves, who trailed by seven after the first quarter, took control in the second and never let up to score the first blow in the best-of-seven series.

“It’s not to say our guys weren’t ready to withstand a play-off-level basketball game... I’m not sure physically we were ready,” Redick said. “And really when (Minnesota) started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn’t respond to meet that.”

Lakers guard Austin Reaves added on ESPN: “I think that they just physically beat us from the get-go.”

Naz Reid scored 23 points off the bench – drilling six of Minnesota’s franchise play-off-record 21 three-pointers.

Anthony Edwards added 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Minnesota, who led by as many as 27.

A 10-0 Lakers run cut the deficit to 88-71 in the third quarter, but the Timberwolves had an answer for every Lakers run.

“We just came out ready to play. Everybody’s got to trust their work, trust themselves, and they did that tonight,” said Edwards, who had advised his teammates before the game to come out “ready to fight”.

James added: “This Minnesota team, they’re going to be physical. That’s what they bring to the table. It took us one game... (to) understand that.

“They took home-court advantage from us tonight, but we have to control the controllables, and if we do that, we’ll have a much better chance to win than we did tonight.”

The Lakers were the only home team to lose on the opening day of first-round action.

Nikola Jokic scored 29 points and Aaron Gordon added 25 as the Nuggets edged out the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110 in an overtime thriller in Denver.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks put together a 21-0 scoring run in their 40-point fourth quarter to pull away for a 123-112 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden.

Elsewhere, the Indiana Pacers romped to a 117-98 victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic added nine rebounds, 12 assists and three steals for the Nuggets, who erased an early 15-point deficit to grab the win in Game 1 of their Western Conference series.

Russell Westbrook came up big on both ends of the floor and drilled a three-pointer that put Denver up 98-96 with 24.1 seconds left in regulation.

James Harden tied it as the Clippers forced the extra session, which Gordon opened with a dunk, and Denver would not trail again.

In New York, Jalen Brunson scored 23 of his 34 points in the second half while Karl-Anthony Towns and O.G. Anunoby scored 23 points apiece for the Knicks, who trailed Detroit by eight heading into the fourth quarter of a see-saw battle.

“Staying smart and composed,” Brunson said of the key to the Knicks’ fourth-quarter surge. “Just us being smart and finding a way to win the game.”

Tobias Harris scored 25 points and Cade Cunningham added 21 for the Pistons, who are in the play-offs for the first time since 2019, but have not won a play-off game since 2008.

In Indianapolis, Pascal Siakam had 25 points to lead six players who finished in double figures for the Pacers, who led by as many as 28 points.

Two-time NBA MVP Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds – but the rest of the Bucks starters combined for just 14 points.

“Giannis got to the basket too much,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “We were trying to build walls, and he was still getting there.” AFP, REUTERS