Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed his team’s 109-80 blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, emphasizing defensive lapses and offensive struggles. The defeat marked the Lakers’ fifth loss in seven games, highlighting their inconsistency in the early part of the season.
Redick pointed to missed defensive assignments as a critical factor. “We got off to a good start defensively,” he said. “Then we made a couple of mental lapses, two ISO threes, and didn’t execute in the post against Randle. That deflated us, and we weren’t scoring on the other end.”
The Lakers trailed by double digits for much of the game. Redick noted the offense’s struggles were deflating. “Sometimes the offense can deflate you,” he explained, highlighting their failure to generate momentum in key stretches.
The Timberwolves, now 10-10, were dominant on both ends. Julius Randle led the charge with 18 points, while Rudy Gobert controlled the paint with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Minnesota held the Lakers to just 40.5% shooting, their lowest scoring total since 2017.
Despite his efforts to maintain optimism, Redick admitted concerns about the team’s trajectory. “I’ve not seen us playing the way we did earlier in the year,” he said. He plans to spend time with his staff addressing these issues, adding, “We’ve got to clean that up.”
Minnesota capitalized on their defensive strength, limiting LeBron James and Anthony Davis to quiet outings. James finished with 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting, extending his slump to 19 consecutive missed three-pointers. Davis managed 12 points and 11 rebounds but struggled against Gobert’s interior defense.
D’Angelo Russell was a bright spot for the Lakers with 20 points in his return to the starting lineup. However, Redick acknowledged the team’s inability to sustain defensive and offensive cohesion. He said, “Sometimes when you don’t emphasize something or think you’re good at it, you get slippage.”
Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in 15 points each for the Timberwolves, showcasing their bench depth. Donte DiVincenzo added 11 points and nine assists, as Minnesota’s reserves outscored Los Angeles’ bench 54-28.
Minnesota’s dominance extended beyond scoring, with the team excelling in transition and from deep. They tallied 20 fast-break points and shot 42.9% from beyond the arc, checking off key priorities for head coach Chris Finch.
The Lakers’ uneven play has become a recurring theme this season. Redick previously dismissed poor performances, such as the second half of a loss to Denver, as aberrations. However, he now sees a pattern. “It’s looking more and more like it’s not an aberration,” he admitted.
This loss comes on the heels of a narrow win over Utah, leaving the Lakers searching for answers. Redick remains focused on finding solutions, stating, “I really believe we’ve gotten better defensively. We’ve just got to clean things up offensively.”
