The Minnesota Timberwolves launched the postseason with an authoritative 17-point victory over the No.3 seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first game of their Western Conference playoff series, by dominating their three-point shots, hitting them at a 50% success rate.
Naz Reid powered down the paint with 23 points and Julius Randle contributed 16, as Minnesota, currently the 6th seed, continue their strong first-round playoff form, now boasting a 5-0 record in such games over the past two seasons.
The Wolves’ shooting was sharp on Saturday, connecting on 51.2 percent of their total field goals, and making a deadly 21 out of 42 attempts from beyond the arc, carrying their momentum from a strong finish to the regular season where they went 17-4 in their last 21 games.
McDaniels remarked on the ABC broadcast, “It was all about stepping out there and playing with confidence. I know my teammates trust me, and [Edwards] is always telling me to shoot it, miss or make, and I did just that tonight.”
Despite an otherwise flawless evening, the Timberwolves did face some adversity as Edwards left the game in the third quarter with an injury to his left leg but returned in the fourth. Naz Reid also suffered an injury in the closing minutes of the game.
Luka Doncic, the Lakers’ star point guard, tallied 37 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while LeBron James contributed 19 points for the No. 3 seed Lakers, who struggled to find rhythm, shooting only 39.8 percent from the field and lacking the energy boost that was anticipated following the February trade that brought Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.
Austin Reaves finished with 16 points for Los Angeles, although the team’s pace was slow to start with the Lakers being outscored 25-6 on fast-break points and 43-13 from the bench.
The next game in the series is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The Lakers held an early lead with a 28-21 score in the first quarter; however, the Timberwolves responded by dominating the second quarter to take a 59-48 lead into halftime, shooting an impressive 54.2 percent that quarter earning them 38 points.
The Timberwolves solidified their charge with an opening 11-0 run into the third quarter, extending their lead to 70-48 just under two minutes in.
The Wolves maintained a commanding lead, and though Edwards was taken out with an injury, they didn’t miss a beat. Later, Naz Reid hit his head after taking an inadvertent elbow, but the Timberwolves still secured a comfortable 22-point victory.
In other Game 1 playoff action on Saturday, the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-98, the New York Knicks edged out the Detroit Pistons 123-112, and the Denver Nuggets clinched an overtime win against the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110.
