- Los Angeles Lakers defeated Minnesota Timberwolves 94:85 to level the Western Conference quarterfinal series at 1-1
- Luka Doncic starred with 31 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists, while LeBron James added 21 and 11 boards
- Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards combined for 52 points but couldn’t lead the Wolves to a second straight win
Key Takeaways:
The Los Angeles Lakers claimed their first victory of the NBA Playoffs after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 94:85 in Game 2 of their Western Conference first round series, played at Crypto.com Arena. JJ Redick’s squad adjusted after their Game 1 defeat and held their ground in the final quarter against Chris Finch’s persistent team. With the win, the Lakers levelled the series at 1-1. The next two games will be played in Minnesota, with Game 3 scheduled for April 26 (Saturday).
Nothing like that playoff win feeling 🎊 pic.twitter.com/eJbLK1VIgU
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 23, 2025
Luka Doncic made the opening minutes look easy and delivered a dazzling display that helped the Lakers establish an early double-digit lead. Despite early flashes from Anthony Edwards, Minnesota struggled to keep pace, and the hosts pulled away to a 19-point advantage by the end of the first quarter.
LeBron James took over in the second, with Doncic joining in later to stretch the lead further. Minnesota had no real answers, and the Lakers entered half-time with a 58:43 cushion. Austin Reaves made an impact early in the second half, making it harder for the visitors to mount any resistance. Rui Hachimura then stepped up, pushing the Lakers to a 16-point lead heading into the fourth.
The Timberwolves showed some life in the final period, trimming the deficit to 9 points with under 4 minutes to play after a strong sequence from Julius Randle. But any hopes of a comeback were dashed as Doncic and James closed out the game for the Lakers.
Luka Doncic finished just shy of a triple-double with 31 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. LeBron James added 21 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Austin Reaves contributed 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while Rui Hachimura added 11 points and 5 boards.
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27 points and 6 assists. Anthony Edwards chipped in with 25 points and 6 rebounds.