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Victor Petkov
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Timberwolves dominate Lakers in Game 1 behind balanced offensive display
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Luka Doncic's 37 points were not enough for Los Angeles in 117-95 loss

The Minnesota Timberwolves delivered a commanding performance in the opening game of their first-round playoff series, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 117–95 on Saturday night. Despite a 37-point effort from Luka Dončić in his postseason debut with the Lakers, Minnesota’s cohesive team play and long-range shooting proved decisive at Crypto.com Arena.

Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 25 points, while Naz Reid added 23 off the bench, including six three-pointers. Anthony Edwards contributed 22 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in an all-around effort that helped the sixth-seeded Timberwolves seize home-court advantage.

Minnesota took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 38–20 to build a double-digit halftime lead. From that point, the visitors maintained firm control, holding off any attempt at a comeback.

“I got a great group of guys,” Edwards said postgame. “I saw what we had back in training camp. It took time to build chemistry, but now we’re playing with confidence and understanding.”

The Timberwolves set a franchise playoff record by hitting 21 three-pointers on 42 attempts, with Julius Randle and Edwards each connecting on four. The efficiency from beyond the arc and consistent ball movement allowed Minnesota to generate numerous uncontested looks.

Doncic scored 16 points in the first quarter to give the Lakers an early spark, but Los Angeles struggled to find rhythm offensively for the remainder of the game. The Timberwolves’ defense tightened as the game progressed, limiting secondary scoring and dominating the glass.

Minnesota has now won 18 of its last 22 games and carries significant momentum into Game 2 of the series.