Ammon News - The Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a commanding 117–95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday, overcoming past playoff mishaps and recent late-game collapses.

Despite holding a sizeable 27-point lead in the third quarter — a scenario that once would’ve sparked concern among Wolves fans due to past playoff slip-ups, notably in 2022 against Memphis — Minnesota stayed composed. Although the Lakers briefly cut the lead to 12 early in the fourth, the Wolves held firm and reasserted control.

Crucial contributions from the supporting cast proved vital. Jaden McDaniels led the team with 25 points on an efficient 11-for-13 shooting, while Naz Reid added 23 points off the bench, shooting 8-for-12. Their efforts helped erase an early deficit and swing the momentum decisively in the Wolves’ favour during the second quarter.

Star guard Anthony Edwards added nine of his 22 points in the third quarter and came close to a triple-double, tallying nine assists and eight rebounds. The Lakers’ Luka Doncic dropped 37 points, but the Timberwolves defence largely neutralised the rest of L.A.’s roster, including LeBron James, who finished with 19. Overall, the Lakers shot just 40% from the field compared to Minnesota’s 51%.

After briefly exiting the game with an injury late in the third, Edwards returned in the fourth and immediately hit a three-pointer to steady the team as the Lakers mounted a short-lived comeback. Reid, who had taken a tough fall earlier, also returned and drilled a three to help push the lead back to 19.

The game was effectively sealed when Donte DiVincenzo capitalised on a careless Lakers turnover, cruising in for a dunk with just under five minutes left, sending much of the Lakers’ home crowd heading for the exits.

The win gives Minnesota a 1–0 series lead and, importantly, snatches home-court advantage from the Lakers.