Lakers vs Timberwolves: Doncic leads Los Angeles to Recreation 2 playoff win – INA NEWS

Luka Doncic scored 16 of his 31 factors in a dominating first quarter and added 12 rebounds and 9 assists because the Los Angeles Lakers evened their Western Convention first-round playoff sequence with a 94-85 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.

LeBron James added 21 factors and 11 rebounds, Austin Reaves scored 16 factors, and Rui Hachimura had 11 because the third-seeded Lakers rebounded from a 22-point loss within the sequence opener on Saturday.

“It was only a query of if we’d be extra bodily or not, and I feel we confirmed that,” Doncic mentioned on Tuesday. “We have been there for 48 minutes. We bought up massive within the first quarter, we discovered from the final sport, and we simply caught with it.”

Recreation 3 is on Friday in Minneapolis, the place the Timberwolves went 2-0 in opposition to Los Angeles within the common season.

Julius Randle scored 27 factors and Anthony Edwards added 25 for the Timberwolves, who shot 38 % from the sector after capturing 51.2 % in Recreation 1, once they have been additionally 21 of 42 from 3-point vary. Minnesota hit a season-low 5 3-pointers on 25 makes an attempt in Recreation 2 and scored its fewest factors this season.

“It appeared like each time I caught the ball, they type of went right into a zone in a way,” Edwards mentioned. “It was type of complicated at occasions, however we’ll watch movie and be prepared [for Game 3].”

Jaden McDaniels completed with eight factors for the Timberwolves after he scored a team-high 25 in Recreation 1.

Los Angeles roared out to a double-digit lead lower than seven minutes into the sport. The Lakers have been up 34-15 on the finish of the primary quarter, capturing 55 % whereas holding Minnesota to 27.8 %.

Hachimura went to the locker room within the first quarter after he was inadvertently hit within the face by the Timberwolves’ Naz Reid. He returned halfway by way of the second quarter, carrying a protecting masks.

The Lakers led by 22 factors within the first half and have been up 58-43 at half-time.

“After we have been organised in the correct spots, we ran some great things; and admittedly, I believed we missed some open 3s,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick mentioned. “[Reaves] bought some nice seems. Apart from a few disorganised performs, we performed good offence. As a coach, you could possibly see it coming. I simply wished to verify all people was on the identical web page.”

Minnesota bought inside 11 factors, at 62-51, with 7 minutes 48 seconds remaining within the third quarter earlier than Los Angeles went on a 9-0 run for a 71-51 benefit.

The Timberwolves pulled inside single digits at 86-77 with 6:27 minutes remaining, on a fadeaway from McDaniels. It was the closest that they had been since 15-8 within the first quarter.

The Wolves have been once more inside 9 factors, at 90-81, when James had a steal and a coast-to-coast layup for a 92-81 lead with 2:40 minutes left.

“We had some guys play properly individually, however we didn’t join the dots tonight,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch mentioned. “That’s what we had been doing so properly. Nevertheless it was a brilliant bodily sport.”