Los Angeles Lakers already know their opponent for the first round of the playoffs: the Minnesota Timberwolves. The matchup was defined on Sunday, after the Clippers’ overtime victory over the Warriors. The Angelinos, third in the West, will face the Wolves, sixth, in a series that is shaping up to be demanding and full of tactical nuances.
Coach JJ Redick not only has a talented roster at his disposal but also an unexpected yet highly valuable asset: Luka Doncic. The Slovenian, acquired in February, was the protagonist of last year’s series where his Mavericks defeated Minnesota 4-1 in the Western Finals. Doncic shined with averages of 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 2.2 steals, earning the Most Valuable Player award of the series.
There are nuances in what teams try to do against certain opponents,” Redick pointed out, referring to how he will leverage Doncic’s experience in preparing for the Lakers. The idea is to analyze both what worked for Dallas and what didn’t in other situations. In that sense, the coaching staff also takes into account the precedent of Greg St. Jean, now an assistant for the Lakers, who was swept by the Wolves in the first round last season while with the Suns.
“Minnesota is a very good basketball team,” Redick warned. “They’ve been playing as well as anyone recently. I think they are one of the four teams with top 10 offense and defense. They present many challenges.”
The Timberwolves closed the regular season with a record of 49-33, just one win fewer than the Lakers. They won nine of their last eleven games and secured the sixth position. They have the eighth-best offense (115.7 points per 100 possessions) and the sixth-best defense (110.8 points allowed). Their standout player, Anthony Edwards, led the league in threes with 320 and averaged 27.4 points per game in his fifth season.
The Lakers, on the other hand, have had several recent matchups with Minnesota. They faced off in preseason, in the first game of the official calendar, and then split the series 2-2 in the regular season. However, only one of those encounters was after Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles, which they won 111-102 on February 27.
The Angelinos closed the season with a 109-81 loss to Portland, a game in which Doncic, LeBron James, and other key players rested due to various physical discomforts. Nevertheless, the Lakers who did travel to Portland closely followed the outcome of the Clippers-Warriors from the visiting locker room, knowing that their immediate fate would be determined there. Upon confirming the opponent, Jarred Vanderbilt summed up the group’s sentiment with a simple yet resounding statement: “Let’s go to Minnesota, guys!
Redick plans a week of phased work, making use of the days leading up to the start of the series. Monday will be a day off, Tuesday will involve practice and a group video session to watch the play-in between the Warriors and Grizzlies. “The focus this week is not to give it all at once. We will take it slowly. Tuesday will be more about us. We will introduce Minnesota on Wednesday,” explained the coach.
The postseason is set, and the Lakers trust that their blend of talent, experience, and planning—with Doncic as a strategic piece—can make the difference in their quest to advance.
