The pressure is on in LA as the Los Angles Lakers take the floor for a critical Game 2 showdown against the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves. After a stinging 117-95 loss in Game 1, where the Lakers unraveled after a strong first quarter, LeBron James and company are now staring at a potential 0-2 hole on their home court of they not buckle up on time.
The Wolves, riding a wave of momentum and a lethal three-point attack, has won nine of its last 10 games. With Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert leading the charge, the Timberwolves are looking to tighten their grip on the series.
Let’s break down how both teams and their key players performed in Game 2.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers Box Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | 34 | 24 | 23 | 13 | 94 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 15 | 28 | 22 | 20 | 85 |
Timberwolves Players’ Stats
| PLAYER | PTS | AST | REB | STL | BLK | FG | 3PT |
| Julius Randle | 27 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9-17 | 2-4 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3-11 | 0-3 |
| Rudy Gobert | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2-5 | 0-0 |
| M. Conley | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0-5 | 0-3 |
| A. Edwards | 25 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10-22 | 2-8 |
| Naz Reid | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3-8 | 1-3 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1-4 | 0-2 |
| N. Alexander-Walker | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1-6 | 0-2 |
| T. Shannon Jr. | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
Lakers Players’ Stats
| PLAYER | PTS | AST | REB | STL | BLK | FG | 3PT |
| Rui Hachimura | 11 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4-9 | 0-2 |
| LeBron James | 21 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 8-19 | 1-5 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1-2 | 0-0 |
| Luka Doncic | 31 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 9-20 | 2-8 |
| Austin Reaves | 16 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7-14 | 0-6 |
| D. Finney-Smith | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3-6 | 1-3 |
| J. Vanderbilt | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| G. Vincent | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2-4 | 2-4 |
| J. Goodwin | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Timberwolves vs. Lakers: Game Recap
The Lakers came out guns blazing in Game 2, flipping the script with a commanding 34-15 lead after the first quarter—and this time, they looked like a team on a mission. Luka Doncic was in his bag early, putting up 14 points in just the opening frame.
LeBron James didn’t take long to impose his will either, contributing four points, four rebounds, and two assists, while also anchoring the defense with active rotations and help-side contests.
His court vision sparked a couple of highlight plays, including a slick feed to Dorian Finney-Smith for a fast-break layup. Austin Reaves also added four points and three assists, staying aggressive and feeding off Doncic’s rhythm.
On the flip side, the Timberwolves couldn’t get much going. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with six points, but it was Lakers all over the game in the first quarter.
The Timberwolves tightened their grip in the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Lakers 28-24 behind an aggressive push from Edwards, who dropped two strong finishes at the rim. James hit a deep three and added a couple of smooth mid-range buckets on his part to keep the momentum going for the Lakers.
Edwards’ back-to-back buckets in the final minutes, followed by a rejection from Terrence Shannon Jr. on Austin Reaves’ 3-point try to close the half was the main highlight. Timberwolves up by 15, and they’ve got momentum back.
At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers led 81-65. The quarter was marked by strong defensive rebounds from both teams, key shots from the Lakers, and free throws by Wolves’ standout, Edwards.
But, Rudy Gobert’s exceptional dunk and a clutch 3-pointer from Finney-Smith helped the Lakers push forward with a single point lead in the third quarter. Dončić appeared a bit off in Q3, but facilitated with rebounds and assists, contributing to the Lakers’ steady lead.
The fourth quarter started with Naz Reid catching fire, knocking down a 3 and a floater to keep the Wolves in it. But the Lakers responded with big plays from King James, who finished with 21 points and Dončić who added a slick reverse layup late, capping off his night with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
Julius Randle did the heavy lifting for Minnesota with 27 points, and Anthony Edwards chipped in 25, including a driving dunk and multiple attempts from deep. But late-game turnovers and missed threes cost them.
The Lakers’ defense came up huge, with blocks from Rui Hachimura and clutch five rebounds at the final buzzer. After a messy final two minutes with turnovers and missed shots on both sides, the Lakers stayed composed, holding off a late Timberwolves surge to tie the series 1-1 with a gritty 94-85 win. Now, they will be more confident when Game 3 tip off on Friday, April 26.