LA Wins to Level Series With Minnesota; OKC, Indiana in Commanding 2-0 Leads
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Apr 2025
Host and #3 seed Los Angeles Lakers got back at #6 Minnesota Timberwolves, 94-85 to level their first round playoff series at one win apiece.
Meanwhile West #1 Oklahoma City Thunder outclassed the #8 Memphis Grizzlies 118-99 while East #4 Indiana Pacers repeated over #5 Milwaukee Bucks, 123-115 to establish commanding 2-0 leads in their own first round series. The series shift to Memphis and Milwaukee for the next two games where the Grizzlies and the Bucks hope to avoid sweeps.
Luka Doncic came up with a near triple double performance with 31 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists as he combined with Lebron James (21 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists) in avenging a 117-95 opening day loss to the Timberwolves.
Minnesota's strategy of using size to hound Doncic and James did not work this time as the two presided over a whirlwind offense and hustling team defense that befuddled the taller Timberwolves in the first two quarters resulting to huge leads for the Lakers with the half ending at 58-43 in favor of LA.
With Anthony Edwards not finding his rhythm on offense, Minnesota continued to play catch up as Austin Reeves and Riu Hachimura supported Lebron and Doncic with timely hits whenever the Timberwolves threaten to cut the deficit to single digit. Julius Randle tried to ramp up Minnesota's offense but even he fell to foul trouble trying to limit Doncic.
The Timberwolves never came to reducing the Lakers lead to below nine as even Jaden McDaniels proved ineffective on both ends of the court and tall center Rudy Gobert showed butter fingers and was always beaten to the ball by the quicker Lakers.
After Doncic's 31 points and James's 21 points, Reeves had 16 points while Hachimura added 11 points plus five boards.
Minnesota was led by Randle who tallied 27 points. Edwards scored 25 points. They were just the Minnesota players to score in double figures.
Games 3 and 4 of the series shifts to Minnesota where the Timberwolves hope to make the necessary adjustments.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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