When Shannon Sharpe boldly declared the Los Angeles Lakers would take care of the Minnesota Timberwolves with ease, his First Take co-host Stephen A. Smith wasn’t the least bit surprised. But after what unfolded on Saturday night, Smith wasted no time delivering his hilarious comeback.
Following the Timberwolves’ demolition of the Lakers in Game 1, Smith gleefully clapped back at Sharpe live on First Take, making sure everyone knew who had the last laugh — at least for now.
“Triple-A, NWA, I don’t care what Shannon has to say,” Smith said with a grin. “Lakers ain’t winning in 5.”
Smith’s playful jab came after a stunning display from the Timberwolves, who steamrolled the Lakers 117-95 behind a lethal combination of lights-out shooting and suffocating defense. Minnesota shot 50% from three-point range, drilling 21 triples and spreading the floor in a way Los Angeles simply couldn’t match.
Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and Naz Reid combined for a devastating 70 points, providing a glimpse of how dangerous Minnesota can be when their young core is firing on all cylinders. Defensively, they clamped down on the Lakers, holding them under 100 points and making life miserable for everyone not named Luka Doncic.
Doncic finished with 37 points, but many of his buckets came in isolation, and the Timberwolves made sure no one else in purple and gold could find any rhythm. It was a dominant team effort — and perhaps an ominous sign of what’s ahead in the series.
Minnesota has shown before that they’re capable of quick work in the playoffs, having swept the Phoenix Suns last year in the first round. And after beating the defending champion Denver Nuggets in 2024 en route to a Western Conference Finals berth, the Timberwolves have quietly built a reputation for thriving under pressure.
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Smith and Sharpe’s Friendly Banter Rolls On
As always, the banter between Smith and Sharpe is part of what makes First Take must-watch television. Since Sharpe’s arrival, their back-and-forth exchanges — especially when it comes to LeBron James and the Lakers — have provided endless entertainment. Sharpe, a longtime LeBron supporter, has been bullish about the Lakers’ chances after their midseason blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic.
Under first-year head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers posted an impressive 50-32 record, finishing third in the West. But against a Timberwolves team that blends youthful explosiveness with playoff-tested grit, the road ahead looks treacherous.
Anthony Edwards continues to look like a superstar in the making, McDaniels has emerged as an elite two-way threat, and Reid has proven he can swing games with his versatile scoring. Whether it’s one of them stepping up or all three, Minnesota poses serious problems for a Lakers squad still trying to fully gel.
There’s plenty of basketball left to play, and there’s no doubt that Smith and Sharpe will keep the fireworks coming regardless of which way the series turns. But for now, after Game 1, it’s Stephen A. Smith who holds the bragging rights.
