Lakers fight back in Game 2 to even series against Timberwolves

LOS ANGELES — We’re all tied up. The Lakers evened the series at 1-1 with a bounce-back 94-85 win over the Timberwolves in a physical Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Los Angeles came into the second game of the series with a clear intent to match Minnesota’s physicality — an element that was missing in the series opener and contributed to their 22-point defeat. 

LeBron James said they’d be prepared for the Timberwolves’ bruising style in Game 2, and the Lakers did just that, holding Minnesota to its lowest point total of the season behind their own style of physical play.

"We did the same game plan. We didn't really change much. It was just the question of if we were going to be more physical or not. I think we showed that," Luka Dončić said.

The Lakers clamped down in transition, holding the Timberwolves to just six fast-break points after giving up 25 in Game 1. Minnesota’s three-point barrage also came to a halt from 21 threes in the previous game, as both teams struggled from beyond the arc, each shooting just 20% from deep (L.A. made six 3s, MIN made five 3s).

Dončić set the tone early, outscoring the Timberwolves himself (15–10) at one point in the opening frame. He finished the first half with 22 points and was the driving force in the Lakers’ win, nearly posting a triple-double with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists in 42 minutes.

Dončić relentlessly attacked mismatches, putting center Rudy Gobert on skates several times while one-on-one with him on the perimeter. He forced his way to the line, hitting all 11 of his attempts from the free throw line. L.A. finished perfect from the line, making all 20 attempts.

James brought a different energy in Game 2, impacting both ends of the floor. One of the game’s defining moments came late in the fourth quarter, when James picked Anthony Edwards clean and finished the play on the other end to extend the lead to 11 with two minutes left — a play that helped seal the win. James had 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in 39 minutes.

James said that they can still be better offensively than what they displayed in the win, adding that the team had great looks and most of his shots in the fourth quarter were good shots that just didn't fall.

"If we can continue to get great looks like that, then we believe in our percentages," James said. "We got to continue to work the habits and continue to shoot the ball with confidence.”

James didn’t shy away from the Lakers’ struggles in the series opener, admitting there was “a lot” they could’ve done better. After holding each other accountable, making adjustments, and like he always says, "staying even keel," the team delivered a stronger effort in Game 2. “Now we need to be even better on Friday,” he said.

Austin Reaves’ struggles from Game 1 carried into the start of Game 2, as he missed his first four shot attempts — all from beyond the arc. He finished the night 0-for-6 from three, but bounced back inside the arc, converting seven of his eight attempts from the midrange and in the paint. 

Reaves ended with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists on 50% shooting (seven-of-14) in 42 minutes, finding other ways to contribute despite his cold 3-point shooting.

The Lakers ended the first quarter with a lead over Minnesota, just as they did in Game 1. This time, the difference came in the middle quarters. Instead of letting their foot off the gas, L.A. kept applying pressure following a dominant 34–15 first quarter behind 16 points from Dončić.

L.A. now heads to Minnesota for the next two games in the series (Friday and Sunday), a place the Lakers have not had a great track record in, with a 1-6 record at the Target Center since 2022.

"They have amazing fans and they're very loud," Dončić said about his experience playing in a playoff atmosphere in Minnesota. "At some point, they're going to make a run and we got to stick together. It's us against the whole area. It's going to be very tough."