The Los Angeles Lakers showed up to Game 1 of the playoffs, but only in uniform. In front of a sold-out crowd at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers fell flat in a 117-95 beatdown by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
And head coach JJ Redick? He didn’t sugarcoat a thing. From lack of toughness to getting outmuscled, Redick made it clear, the Lakers just weren’t ready to meet the moment physically. Well, he hit the nail on the head on this one.
Redick Points to Lack of Physical Edge in Game 1
Postgame, Redick kept his message blunt and brutally honest. He didn’t question effort or attitude, he questioned the Lakers’ ability to match Minnesota’s physicality. “They’re one of the best teams in basketball,” Redick said. “It’s not to say our guys weren’t mentally ready, but I’m not sure physically we were.”
"I'm not sure, physically, we were ready"
Lakers HC JJ Redick on Game 1 against Minnesota pic.twitter.com/TAmpzEQo39
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 20, 2025
The Timberwolves didn’t just outscore the Lakers, they ran through them. Redick noted that when Minnesota amped up its pressure, his guys had no answer. “When they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, like we just didn’t respond immediately to that.”
Minnesota torched Los Angeles with 51% shooting and hit 50% from deep, drilling 21 threes on the night. Redick also pointed out how Minnesota’s switch-everything defense jammed up the Lakers’ offense, and the lack of response set the tone for the blowout.
Dončić Scores Big, But Lakers Still Come Up Small
Luka Dončić tried to drag the Lakers into the fight. The Dallas Mavericks transplant dropped 37 points in his first postseason game in purple and gold, but shockingly ended with just one assist. That stat alone said plenty about the ball movement issues and defensive disruptions caused by the Timberwolves.
LeBron James had a quieter night by his standards. Just 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists, nothing that changed the flow. Austin Reaves added 16, but the rest of the Lakers looked stuck in the mud as Minnesota’s defense swarmed the ball.
The Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, came in ready to deliver playoff-level smoke. The Lakers looked like they were still waiting for the regular season to end.
Redick’s message heading into Game 2 is loud and clear: energy and effort won’t be enough; it’s time to get physical. The Lakers aren’t short on stars, but if they want to make any noise this postseason, they’re going to have to fight harder than they did in Game 1. Because talent alone doesn’t win in April. Physicality, grit, and urgency? That’s what gets it done. And Minnesota showed up with all three.
Now it’s up to Los Angeles to punch back.