An interesting opener to the series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves left with a win for the determined Minnesota team.
Franchise star Anthony Edwards exited in the third quarter with what appeared to be cramps after landing awkwardly on a driving jump shot. He immediately ran to the locker room, sparking concern in the NBA world..
Timberwolves teammate and former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid would also get hurt in the early minutes of the fourth quarter with a head injury after catching an elbow to the face by Lakers forward Jared Vanderbilt.
Both players would eventually return and contribute for the Timberwolves in the dominant victory in Game one of their first round matchup against the Lakers.
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In the win on Saturday night, it seemed as if the Timberwolves couldn’t miss a shot, shooting 51% from the field and 50% from three-point land.
Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels would lead the way for the Timberwolves – combining for 70 of the 117 total points Minnesota scored.
Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled to keep up with the red-hot Minnesota team. Los Angeles led after the first quarter, 28-21, and things went downhill from there.
LeBron James and Austin Reaves never really got in a groove of things and it seemed as if the Lakers relied upon Luka Doncic and his ability to score the ball too much.
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James would finish with just 19 points, five rebounds and three assists, Reaves had 16 points, three rebounds, three assists, and the only bright light for the Lakers, Luka Doncic, finished with 37 points, eight rebounds and one assist.
Game two will be played on Tuesday, April 22 in Los Angeles.
