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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9), guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) and center Naz Reid (11) defend during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) AP Joey Aliberti | JAliberti@syracuse.
com The Minnesota Timberwolves stole Game 1 on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday in the first round of the NBA Playoffs . Los Angeles hosts Minnesota in Game 2 Tuesday , with tip off set for 10 p.m.
ET. LATEST: Stream the 2025 NBA Playoffs with DirecTV Stream (free trial) . What: NBA Western Conference Playoffs, Round 1 Who: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers When: Tuesday, April 22 Where: crypto.
com Arena, Los Angeles, California | Tickets Time: 10 p.m. ET TV: TNT, truTV Channel Finder: DirecTV , Verizon Fios , Cox , Xfinity , Spectrum , Optimum Stream: DirecTV Stream (free trial) , Sling (half off first month) , Max Use our 2025 NBA Playoffs Guide for everything you need to know about the NCAA Tournament.
STREAM the NBA Playoffs on DirecTV Stream GET TICKETS to NBA Playoffs games from VividSeats . SHOP for Playoffs gear on Fanatics . BET on the Playoffs with our latest promos and predictions NBA Playoffs Schedule Tuesday, April 22 Milwaukee Bucks @ Indiana Pacers | 7 p.
m. ET | NBA TV ( STREAM ) Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder | 7:30 p.m.
ET | TNT ( STREAM ) Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. ET | TNT ( STREAM ) Here’s a recent NBA story from the Associated Press: LOS ANGELES (AP) — When Luka Doncic scored 16 points in the first quarter of his playoff debut with his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers’ downtown arena crackled with excitement from fans probably imagining dream scenarios for their team and its new superstar this spring.
The Timberwolves made sure that dream got ugly quite quickly in Game 1. They also left the Lakers looking for ways to help Doncic before Minnesota runs away with this first-round series. Doncic scored 37 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t nearly enough to counter the Wolves’ balanced scoring in their 117-95 victory Saturday night.
After an impressive start by their Slovenian superstar, the Lakers were comprehensively embarrassed during their first postseason Game 1 in front of a full home arena since 2012. Los Angeles didn’t demonstrate the toughness necessary to hang with the physical, veteran Wolves on defense — and only Doncic produced an impressive game on offense. The combination led to a 27-point deficit in the second half and a laugher of a victory for the Wolves, who immediately seized homecourt advantage in the series after finishing just one win behind the Lakers in the regular season.
“They’re a great opponent,” JJ Redick said after losing his playoff coaching debut. “They’re one of the best teams in basketball. It’s not to say our guys weren’t ready to withstand playoff-level basketball.
We were mentally ready, and I thought our spirit was right. ..
. I’m not sure physically we were ready, if that makes sense. When they start playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we really just couldn’t respond to that.
” Minnesota’s superior physicality was obvious for long stretches, even with Rudy Gobert playing only 24 minutes. But the Wolves took control and kept it largely because they hit 21 3-pointers on only 42 attempts. The Lakers lack a dominant big man after trading Anthony Davis, and Jaden McDaniels took advantage of that while scoring 25 points.
But that doesn’t explain the Lakers’ poor effort on the perimeter, where they have enough athletes to guard most teams competently when they make the effort. “I think it was physical, (and) they were hitting a lot of 3s,” Doncic said. “We have to limit their 3s, especially their lasers.
We weren’t physical. They were running. They were getting anything they want, and we have to be better.
” Doncic knew that applied to him personally on the offensive end despite his gaudy point total: The gifted passer had just one assist, his lowest total since Game 1 of last season’s NBA Finals. LeBron James also got off to an unimpressive start to his 18th NBA postseason, scoring 19 points and going 1 for 5 on 3-point attempts while producing only three assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes. The 40-year-old James can’t be shaken by one loss, and he focused on clear areas for improvement in Game 2 on Tuesday.
He particularly lamented the Lakers’ transition defense, which allowed 25 fast-break points. “Throughout the whole season we did a great job of not allowing teams to get fast break point after fast break point,” James said. “We already know offensively how dangerous they are, so in giving teams an opportunity to get those easy points, it’s gonna be hard to make that up.
” The Lakers’ crowd stayed in the game throughout the night, but the huge second-half deficit obviously dampened the excitement. Minnesota star Anthony Edwards wasn’t exactly complimentary about that crowd after the Wolves cruised to victory, either “An atmosphere like this, it’s easy for me, man,” Edwards said. “I’ve played in Denver, man.
Denver is a tough place to play on the road. So I mean, it was nothing.” More sports, gear and tickets Where to watch Panthers vs Lightning NHL Playoffs free live stream today How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers game tonight: MLB free live stream Grizzlies vs.
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