When a Los Angeles Lakers legend speaks, people listen. After what can possibly be described as an uninspired performance at home, the Lakers got torched by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their first-round series — and the backlash came fast and furious.
Lakers legend Magic Johnson led the charge and didn’t hold back when pointing fingers at LeBron James and company for playing as if Game 1 was “a regular season game.”
Magic Johnson Torches Lakers After Brutal Game 1 Loss
The Lakers didn’t just lose; they got outworked, outclassed, and out-hustled on their own floor. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, it looked like Minnesota wanted it more. And Johnson wasn’t shy about expressing that sentiment on social media.
“Tonight was one of the Lakers’ worst performances this season,” Johnson posted on X. “They were flat, had no energy, and they played like it was a regular-season game.”
Hard to argue with that. The Timberwolves shot a scalding 51.2% from the floor and connected on 50% of their 3s, draining 21 from beyond the arc. That’s 63 points from deep while Los Angeles scrambled, lagged, and looked lost on closeouts. The defensive intensity simply wasn’t there. And in the playoffs, where every possession counts, that’s a recipe for disaster.
LeBron James Failed To Spark a Fire in Game 1
Even with Luka Dončić dropping 37 points in his Lakers playoff debut, the game still felt wildly out of reach by the third quarter. Dončić, known for orchestrating plays like a maestro, had just one assist. That stat alone speaks volumes about how disconnected the offense was.
Even though the numbers were decent for James — 19 points, five boards, and three assists — the energy just wasn’t there. Austin Reaves also tried to make his mark with his 16 points. But, with the overall flat performance, it just wasn’t enough to cover up the team’s issues.
Meanwhile, Minnesota looked sharp, fluid, and dialed in. The Wolves played like they knew this was their moment to set the tone, and they did just that. While the Lakers didn’t play like a team staring down an opportunity to make a deep postseason run.
Game 2 tips off on Tuesday night at the Crypto.com Arena, and now the pressure is squarely on the Lakers. They can’t afford to go down 0-2 before heading to Minnesota. Not against a Timberwolves squad that smells blood and is playing with real swagger.
If they thought Johnson’s post after Game 1 was scathing, things will probably only get worse if Los Angeles has another bad game.