The Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff run is off to a rocky start, and for LeBron James, it marked a personal low point in his legendary postseason career.
In a stunning Game 1 blowout, the Lakers were outgunned and outpaced by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who walked away with a commanding 117-95 win at Crypto.
com Arena on Saturday night. The loss marks the worst Game 1 defeat James has ever endured in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, adding a harsh new wrinkle to the Lakers’ postseason hopes.
Despite a strong opening frame where the Lakers jumped out to a 28-21 lead, the Timberwolves flipped the script in the second quarter. Behind a flurry of perimeter shooting and fast-break opportunities, Minnesota surged with a dominant 38-20 run, entering halftime with a 59-48 advantage—and they never looked back.
The Timberwolves were relentless from the field, shooting 51.2% overall and 50% from three-point range, including 21 made triples. The Lakers had no answer for their firepower, allowing consistent looks from beyond the arc and surrendering critical second-chance and transition points throughout the night.
“Obviously, we’ve got to do a better job of controlling the controllables,” James said postgame. “And we didn’t do a good enough job after the first quarter. Giving up 21 threes, 20-plus fast break points, second-chance points—those are things we can control.”
James, who finished with 19 points in 32 minutes, acknowledged the team came into the game knowing Minnesota’s perimeter prowess but failed to respond defensively.
“We’ve got to do a better job of closing the bodies and getting out on shooters,” he said.
Minnesota’s balanced attack included contributions across the board, with All-Star guard Anthony Edwards leading the charge and creating problems for the Lakers defense both in the half-court and transition.
The Timberwolves’ bench also outscored the Lakers’ second unit, providing crucial depth in a game that quickly got out of hand.
Despite the lopsided score, the Lakers did find a bright spot in newcomer Luka Dončić, who made his playoff debut in front of the Los Angeles crowd. Dončić tallied 37 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, doing everything he could to spark a comeback that never materialized.
Still, the team around him failed to keep pace, and defensive lapses proved too costly. Head coach Darvin Ham emphasized the need for urgency heading into Game 2, noting the Timberwolves’ physicality and shooting must be met with greater effort and discipline.
With the series now tilting in Minnesota’s favor, the pressure mounts quickly for a veteran Lakers squad that can’t afford to fall into an 0-2 hole. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, appear poised and confident, carrying momentum into Monday’s Game 2 matchup.
If the Lakers hope to rebound, it starts with defense—and with LeBron James leading by example, something he’s done countless times in his career. But at 40 years old, even the King might need more help from his court.
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