Luka scores 31, and the Lakers
muscle past the Timberwolves 94-85 to even 1st-round series
[April 23, 2025]
By GREG BEACHAM
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rui Hachimura got smacked in the face early in
Game 2, and he headed to the Los Angeles Lakers' locker room with a
bleeding nose. He was back on the court just one quarter later
wearing a mask, which he discarded shortly afterward because it
annoyed him.
The Lakers said they collectively got smacked in the mouth by the
blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first-round
series opener. Game 2 was all about their response — and LeBron
James loved his team's tenacity.
Luka Doncic had 31 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, and the
Lakers fought back to even their series with Minnesota with a 94-85
victory Tuesday night.
“We looked at what we didn’t do so well, which is a lot of things in
Game 1,” said James, who scored 21 points and made a key steal in
the fourth quarter. “We took it to heart, held each other
accountable and had a much better result.”
Game 3 is Friday night in Minneapolis.
Austin Reaves added 16 for the third-seeded Lakers, who jumped out
to an early 22-point lead and hung on through a physical matchup
with sixth-seeded Minnesota.
Los Angeles scored only 60 points in the final three quarters, but
the Wolves never got closer than nine points. Coach JJ Redick was
proud of his players' response — even if he had to unload on them in
the fourth quarter during a profanity-laden timeout to maintain
their focus down the stretch.
“I think tonight was just more about getting that urgency button
switched back on,” Redick said.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket against
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first half
of Game 2 of an NBA first-round playoff series in Los Angeles,
Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Julius Randle scored 27 points and Anthony Edwards
had 25 for the Timberwolves, who lost most of their offensive
fluidity from Game 1. Edwards said the Lakers' defensive adjustments
made it “kind of hard” on him.
“The way that they’re guarding us, when I catch the ball, they kind
of go zone, and when I try to attack a gap, it’s like three people,”
Edwards said. “I've just got to make my decisions a little quicker,
and we’ll be all right.”
James added 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, who never
lost control of a chippy, choppy game with 46 personal fouls and
multiple video reviews. James and Hachimura both took hard shots to
the face, and Hachimura donned a second mask after halftime.
The Wolves hit 21 3-pointers while blowing out the Lakers 117-95 in
Game 1. Los Angeles went up by 19 in the first quarter of Game 2
while Doncic exploited isolations on Rudy Gobert.
“We knew they would come with high intensity, with energy,” Randle
said. “We knew it was going to be physical. ... We were stagnant,
missed open looks, missed layups. They were just in a rhythm.”
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