Los Angeles Lakers opened their NBA playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night with high expectations, but it was the Wolves who made the loudest statement. Minnesota secured a dominant 117–95 win, putting pressure on JJ Redick’s squad as they now prepare for a critical Game 2.
The Timberwolves’ performance served as a clear reminder that this is a team built for the moment, especially after reaching the Western Conference Finals just last season. Following the blowout loss, Redick and his coaching staff reviewed game film extensively and identified a long list of areas needing improvement.
“We just have to do a lot of things better, and it starts with playing harder and being more organized,” Redick said after Monday’s practice. The first-year head coach pointed to a lack of offensive cohesion, noting that Minnesota capitalized on L.A.’s defensive lapses and lack of rhythm. Though Luka Doncic had bright moments, Redick made it clear the Lakers must rely more on team execution than individual brilliance.
Redick emphasizes structure over star power
Redick elaborated on what he means by organization, pointing to the finer details of execution. “I think a lot of times you would hear that word [organization], and think it’s just the point guard calling a play. No—it’s all the routine stuff we try to do,” he explained. “Screening, proper spacing, filling corners after makes and misses—those are the things that make us great when we’re doing them right.”
Frustrated by what he saw in the film, Redick continued: “It’s remarkable how many possessions we had three or four guys bunched up near half court with 15 on the clock. That’s not organized basketball, and that’s what we need to fix.”
Reaves: “We let them get comfortable”
Lakers guard Austin Reaves acknowledged that the team started with energy, building a seven-point lead after the first quarter. But by halftime, they trailed by double digits, largely due to Minnesota’s hot shooting from beyond the arc. Reaves noted the Wolves’ early third-quarter flurry of uncontested threes as a turning point.
“To start that third quarter, I think they made three or four in a row—basically all uncontested,” Reaves said. “Regardless of what the game plan is, you don’t want to give up those kinds of looks. This is the NBA. If you give players practice shots, they’re going to make them.” Reaves admitted the team would need to be sharper on both ends of the floor and expects adjustments after reviewing the game film.
Wolves simply outplayed the Lakers
Beyond tactics and execution, Reaves admitted Minnesota simply brought more effort and intensity in the NBA playoffs. “They just played a lot better than us. A lot harder than us,” he said. “They did everything we wanted to do—grab offensive boards, kick it out for threes—and most of them were uncontested or a result of us breaking down defensively.”
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Reaves pointed to a brief Lakers push late in the third and early in the fourth, but said Minnesota’s stars made timely midrange shots to keep the momentum. “Ant hit one, Julius hit one—it kind of killed our run. But yeah, we’ll be better,” he concluded.