Game 2 Preview: Timberwolves at Lakers

The Timberwolves came out firing in Los Angeles and pulled off a 22-point victory over the Lakers. Can Minnesota overcome LeBron and Luka’s best shot and steal both road games to start the series?

Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers – Game 2
Date: April 22nd, 2025
Time: 9:00 PM CDT
Location: Crypto.com Arena
Television Coverage: TNT/TruTV/MAX/FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Game 2 Preview: The Wolves Just Rocked Hollywood—Now Can They Burn It Down?

That weeping you heard late Saturday night? No, it wasn’t a baby who dropped their pacifier. It wasn’t a toddler watching the Easter Bunny get tackled. That was the collective wail of the national sports media—our pals at ESPN, the Lakers blog-industrial complex, and about half the NBA podcastosphere—who just watched their narrative go poof in real time as the Minnesota Timberwolves marched into L.A. and punched LeBron James and Luka Doncic directly in the story arc.

This was supposed to be their moment. LeBron, the eternal king. Luka, the generational wizard. JJ Redick, the new-school coach with old-school smarm. The media had already penciled in the Lakers for the second round. Hell, I saw Finals picks. I saw people writing think pieces about how this Lakers team was built for April. And then Anthony Edwards came in and dropped a crowbar into the gears of the whole machine. Wolves 117, Lakers 95. And it wasn’t that close.

Here’s the thing: this wasn’t a fluke. This wasn’t one of those random “wow, the underdog shot 50% from three” nights that never happen again. The Wolves didn’t even play their A-game for a full 48. Rudy Gobert played 24 minutes because of foul trouble. They gave up key second chance points by not dominating the glass. They let LeBron and Luka combine for 56 points. And they still won by 22. The Lakers ran out of gas halfway through the third, and the Wolves—deeper, bigger, better conditioned—just buried them.

Now comes Game 2. And it’s not a must-win for Minnesota… but it is a make-the-League-panic win. Take both in L.A., and you go back to Minneapolis with a 2–0 lead, a home crowd that’s going to sound like a Metallica concert, and a serious chance to notch back-to-back seasons with playoff series in franchise history. (Yes. History. 36 years. Let that sink in.)

Let’s break down the keys to Game 2—what the Wolves need to keep doing, what they need to clean up, and why Anthony Edwards is officially on his way to becoming the NBA’s next full-blown megastar.

1. Anthony Edwards Just Gave You the Blueprint. Don’t Change It.

Here’s a stat for you: Edwards had 22 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 threes, 1 cramp, and 0 ego trips in Game 1.

This wasn’t just Edwards scoring. This was Edwards controlling the game. He played smart, poised, unselfish basketball. He hunted L.A.’s weak interior defense early, drew doubles, kicked out to shooters, and then—when it mattered—just buried them with daggers. His three-point shooting came in rhythm. No heat checks. No “I’m gonna outshine LeBron” nonsense. This was a mature, grown man performance from a 22-year-old who played like he’s done this 40 times before.

If you’re a Wolves fan, this is your dream scenario: Ant fully in command, using his gravity to free up Naz and Jaden. If he keeps playing this brand of basketball, the Lakers are cooked. Not metaphorically. Actually cooked. Well done. Medium rare if AD was still here. But he’s not. So: burned.

2. Julius Randle: Less Chaos, More Control

Randle had some key moments—especially in the fourth quarter when he hit big shots to kill any last gasp from L.A.—but seven turnovers is a problem. That’s not playoff basketball, that’s NBA 2K when your controller batteries die.

The good news? Most of them were correctable. Trying to bulldoze into LeBron’s chest? Maybe don’t. Throwing cross-court skip passes against an aggressive trap? Not ideal. The Lakers are going to continue throwing funky defensive looks at Edwards, which means Randle’s going to get touches. If he can be a secondary creator without playing carelessly—the Wolves become borderline unstoppable.

3. Let Jaden Cook

Jaden McDaniels was a revelation in Game 1.

• 25 points
• 11-for-13 shooting
• 3-of-3 from three
• Handled Luka on defense for stretches like it was just another Tuesday

It was a career-level game for McDaniels and you could see the excitement oozing out of him…

McDaniels needs to stay aggressive. He’s a rhythm guy—if he starts hot, he keeps cooking. The Wolves did a great job getting him open looks via Ant penetration, and his length gave the Lakers fits defensively. If Jaden is playing like a third star, this series could end fast.

4. Keep the Shooters In Rhythm

• 21-of-42 from three in Game 1
• Five players hit multiple threes

Now, is that sustainable? Probably not. But it’s not pure luck, either. The Wolves were generating wide-open looks thanks to Ant’s drives and L.A.’s scrambling defense. DiVincenzo, NAW, Conley, Naz—these guys can shoot. If the Lakers are still doubling Ant 30 feet from the basket, Minnesota needs to keep punishing them.

Redick will adjust. Expect more aggressive closeouts and trap rotations in Game 2. That’s where the Wolves need to stay patient, swing the ball, and find the open man. Trust the depth. Don’t chase the highlight.

5. Push the Pace. The Lakers Are Old, Out of Shape, and Tired.

This isn’t complicated. The Lakers came out hot. They ran. They jumped. They waved their arms around. And then… they died. The Wolves torched L.A. in the late second and throughout the third quarter. The pace favored Minnesota. The depth favored Minnesota. The lungs favored Minnesota.

If the Wolves stay committed to tempo—pushing off every miss, getting out in transition, playing with controlled chaos—there’s no way L.A. can keep up for 48 minutes. Especially not when their front line is basically Jackson Hayes and vibes.

6. Rebound. Like You Mean It.

Weird stat from Game 1: Despite their considerable size advantage, the Wolves only won the rebound battle by six – 44 to 38, including 13 offensive boards for L.A.

That shouldn’t happen. Not when you’ve got Rudy, Randle, and Naz crashing. The Lakers scored way too many second-chance points early, which helped them build a lead they had no business holding. Clean that up, and this game doesn’t stay close for even two quarters.

7. Play Smart. The Refs Are Not Your Friends.

Let’s be honest:

• Rudy picked up his first foul 15 seconds into the game.
• The Lakers didn’t get called for a single foul until late in the second quarter.
• Jarred Vanderbilt is out there like a Dollar Store Draymond trying to bait everyone into techs.

The Wolves need to rise above it. Rudy’s got to avoid dumb fouls (especially those little swipe-downs), Jaden needs to stay cool, and Ant just has to keep smiling like he knows something the refs don’t.

Because the truth is: they’re playing five-on-eight most nights in L.A. That’s just the deal. But if they stay composed, move the ball, and defend without reaching? The refs can’t save the Lakers from a talent gap.

Bottom Line: You Want Respect? Take Game 2.

It’s one thing to win Game 1. It’s another to win both on the road. That’s when people stop saying “fluke” and start saying “contender.” This is the moment for Minnesota to step on the Lakers’ necks, silence the media machine, and tell the league: We’re not a feel-good story. We’re the real thing.

No one thought the Wolves would win Game 1. Now no one wants to believe they can win the series.

So go take Game 2.

Topple LeBron’s throne.

King Edwards V is here—and he’s not waiting his turn.