The Los Angeles Lakers are making a loud statement in Game Two, and it’s clear that Game One might’ve been nothing more than a wake-up call. Down 0-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves after a flat 117-96 loss, the Lakers have come out swinging, showing a level of urgency and physicality that was missing in the series opener. While the Timberwolves deserve credit for their Game One performance, the odds of that kind of dominance continuing always felt unlikely—especially with guys like LeBron James and Luka Doncic in the building.
Yes, Luka Doncic. The same Luka who famously dropped the quote, “Everybody acts tough when they’re up,” during his 2022 war with Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns. That version of Luka followed up his words with cold-blooded performances in Games 6 and 7, eliminating the Suns in humiliating fashion. That’s the kind of energy the Lakers are tapping into now—taking things personally, making it a mission to set the tone and remind everyone why they’re contenders.
Anthony Edwards is a future face of the league, no doubt. He lit the Lakers up in Game One and made it look easy. But poking the bear—especially one that wears purple and gold—is rarely a good idea. The Lakers, led by LeBron, Doncic, and head coach JJ Redick, weren’t just going to roll over and accept another beatdown. Redick, in particular, has shown he knows how to get his players locked in mentally, and that’s half the battle in a playoff series.
It’s also worth remembering: the Lakers shot just 30% from deep in Game One. That’s not going to last. On the flip side, the Timberwolves hit 50% of their threes—an absurd number for any playoff team to replicate consistently. The math alone points to regression, and the Lakers are capitalizing.
Let’s not pretend the Lakers are a two-man team either. Austin Reaves has become a legitimate scoring threat, averaging around 20 points per game. Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura have stepped up as reliable three-point options. The supporting cast may not be flashy, but they’re starting to click when it matters most.
For Minnesota, it’s not so much about fading them—it’s about recognizing that they poked the wrong bear. Unless Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle (if healthy) continue dropping 20+ points every night, it’s going to be tough to keep up. Edwards is a star, but the Lakers have two of the most intelligent and gifted offensive minds in NBA history—and they rarely lose focus in back-to-back playoff games.
Bottom line: This series is far from over, but if Game Two is any indication, the Lakers are just getting started.
