The Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Los Angeles Lakers 117-95 on Saturday night to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Jaden McDaniels led the visitors with 25 points on 11-for-13 shooting, while Naz Reid came off the bench to add 23 points with six 3-pointers at Crypto.com Arena.
Anthony Edwards nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds as Minnesota erased an early deficit with a 38-20 second quarter.
Luka Doncic scored 16 points in the first quarter alone and ended with 37 in his Lakers playoff debut, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Wolves’ balanced attack.
Minnesota buried a franchise playoff-record 21 three-pointers on 50 percent shooting from deep, including four each from Reid, Edwards, and Julius Randle.
The Timberwolves’ defense clamped down after the opening frame, holding the Lakers to 39.8 percent shooting and just 17 points in the final quarter.
LeBron James contributed 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists in his 18th postseason appearance, but Los Angeles never regained control after halftime.
Mike Conley and Randle combined for 25 points for Minnesota, while Rudy Gobert anchored the paint with six rebounds and a +14 plus-minus in 24 minutes.
Reid once again proved effective in Los Angeles, building on his history of strong road showings at the arena.
Los Angeles briefly cut the deficit to 12 in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota responded quickly and stretched the margin back behind timely three-point shooting.
Minnesota outrebounded the Lakers 44-38, assisted on 29 of their 44 made shots, and committed only 10 turnovers in a poised offensive performance.
The Timberwolves now hold the early advantage heading into Game 2, scheduled for Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
With one road win secured, Minnesota moves closer to its goal of returning to the Western Conference Finals for a second straight year.
