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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Luka, Lakers muscle past Timberwolves to even 1st-round series

Luka, Lakers muscle past Timberwolves to even 1st-round series

Published Apr 23, 2025 05:44 am

At A Glance

  • Luka Doncic had 31 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers fought back to even their first-round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 94-85 victory in Game 2 on Tuesday night, April 22.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 31 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers fought back to even their first-round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 94-85 victory in Game 2 on Tuesday night, April 22.

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 22. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

LeBron James scored 21 points and Austin Reaves added 16 for the third-seeded Lakers, who rebounded from their blowout loss in Game 1 by jumping out to an early 22-point lead and hanging on through a physical matchup with sixth-seeded Minnesota.

Julius Randle scored 27 points and Anthony Edwards had 25 for the Timberwolves, who lost most of their offensive fluidity from their impressive series-opening win.

James added 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, who never lost control of a chippy, choppy game with 46 combined personal fouls and multiple video reviews. James and Rui Hachimura both took hard shots to the face, and Hachimura played the second half in a mask.

Game 3 is Friday night in Minneapolis.

The Wolves hit a franchise-record 21 3-pointers while blowing out the Lakers 117-95 in Game 1 despite 37 points by Doncic. Los Angeles responded with more engaged defense and another big game from Doncic, while the Wolves couldn’t recapture their offensive fluidity until the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles took a 19-point lead in the first quarter of Game 2 with 16 points by Doncic, who exploited isolations on center Rudy Gobert. James’ first 3-pointer put the Lakers up 43-21 in the second quarter.

Los Angeles led 83-65 in the opening minute of the fourth, but Minnesota closed its gap to nine points while the Lakers went seven minutes between field goals. The Wolves still couldn’t muster enough offense closer.

Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Memphis Grizzlies, 118-99, to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Oklahoma City delivered a strong follow-up to its record-setting 131-80 win on Sunday in the series opener. Though Memphis was the team with something to prove, the Thunder came out with the energy. Oklahoma City opened with a 9-0 run and held Memphis scoreless for the first 3 1/2 minutes as the Grizzlies missed their first 10 shots.

The Thunder led 32-17 at the end of the first quarter and never trailed.

“We never underestimate our opponent, no matter what,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Obviously they’re a very good team. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t. And we just wanted to make an emphasis to come out and win that first quarter, set the tone for the night.”

In Indianapolis, Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton played the perfect pair for the Indiana Pacers. Again.

Now they’re two wins away from ousting the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. Again.

Siakam had 24 points, 11 rebounds and a crucial 3-pointer to start Indiana’s decisive final run, while Haliburton added 21 points and 12 assists to lead the Indiana Pacers past the Milwaukee Bucks 123-115 for a 2-0 series lead.

Related Tags

Luka Doncic minnesota timberwolves Los Angeles Lakers
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