The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t look like contenders in their Game 1 blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, falling 117-95 at home. Outside of Luka Dončić, who dropped 37 points, the Lakers struggled to get meaningful production, especially from the supporting cast.
Shooting guard Austin Reaves, who had been averaging over 23 points per game in March and April, put up just 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting (3-of-8 from three), along with three rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes of action.
After Monday’s practice, Reaves was blunt about his underwhelming performance, telling ESPN’s Dave McMenamin:
“I played s***ty. I wasn’t myself. I don’t really know why, but I’ve just got to get back to being me, play my game, and enjoy it.”
Reaves was the Lakers’ third-leading scorer behind Dončić and LeBron James (19 points), but the bench was a major weak point—getting outscored 43-13. Minnesota’s Naz Reid alone accounted for 23 of those bench points.
The Timberwolves had a well-rounded offensive showing, led by Jaden McDaniels with 25 points, Anthony Edwards with 22, and Julius Randle contributing 16.
The Lakers now look to bounce back in Game 2 on Tuesday night at home before the series shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Friday.
The winner of this first-round clash will go on to face either the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals.
