The Timberwolves shot 50% off the three-point line, giving the No. 3 seeded Los Angeles Lakers a fierce defeat in the opening game of the Western Conference Playoff series.
Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points on nine rebounds, while Anthony Edwards added 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves took the Los Angeles Lakers 117-95 in the opening game of the first round Western Conference Playoff Series.
Naz Reid scored 23 points, while Julius Randle scored 16 points as the No. 6 seed. This is because the Timberwolves have improved to 5-0 in their first round game over the past two seasons.
Minnesota shot 51.2% from the floor on Saturday, scoring 21 of 42 from the three-point range, continuing its success from the end of the regular season, which was closed on a 17-4 record.
“I went out and played with confidence,” McDaniels told ABC. “I know that all my teammates trust me. (Edwards) always says, “No matter what, shoot the ball with mistakes and making.” That’s what I did tonight. ”
On an otherwise ideal night, the Timberwolves saw Edwards set out to the locker room with an obvious left leg injury before returning to the fourth quarter. Reid was also injured later in the game.
Luka Doncic scored 37 points on eight rebounds, while Lebron James added 19 points to the No. 3 Seed Lakers.
The Austin Raves scored 16 points after a slow start for Los Angeles. Los Angeles took place 25-6 at fast breakpoint and 43-13 at benchpoint.
Game 2 of the series is set for Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The Lakers owned the first quarter and took a 28-21 lead before the Timberwolves took charge in the second quarter, earning a 59-48 lead at halftime. Minnesota scored 54.2% in the second quarter and scored 38 points.
The Timberwolves broke the second quarter domination when Donte Divincenzo made a 30-foot three-pointer at the half-time buzzer.
The Timberwolves continued their push in the second half, opening on an 11-0 run, earning a 70-48 lead in under two minutes in the third quarter.
Minnesota took an 88-64 lead when Edwards landed violently after a drive to the basket and returned to the locker room with 2:58 minutes left in the third quarter. He returned to the game and checked in with 10:57 left in the game.
Reid left with nine minutes remaining after taking careless elbows from Lakers’ Jarred Vanderbilt to his head, but the Timberwolves grabbed easily and won the 22-point contest.
In a previous Game 1 playoff match on Saturday, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-98, the New York Knicks overcame the Detroit Pistons 123-112, and the Denver Nuggets won an overtime thriller against the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110.
