Analysts Release Early Timberwolves-Lakers Game 1 Prediction: Early Look Favors LA to Win

5 things the Timberwolves must do to upset the Lakers, plus a prediction

The national analysts across the country are singing a familiar tune heading into this first-round series: Lakers in six or seven games. That’s not surprising. Los Angeles has two sure-fire Hall of Famers in LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and the Lakers are the No. 3 seed with home-court advantage. Minnesota, meanwhile, won 17 of its final 21 regular-season games to nab the No. 6 seed. It’s fair to poke holes in the incredibly soft schedule that …

Los Angeles hosts Minnesota to kick off playoffs

Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (50-32, third in the Western Conference)

Will Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert struggle against Lakers’ small-ball lineup?

The Lakers only have one true center in their rotation — Jaxson Hayes, a career-long reserve who starts for Los Angeles but generally plays less than 20 minutes a game. And he’s certainly not a member of the Lakers’ best five-man grouping. Included in that collection is LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith. That’s a lineup that features ample shot creation, scoring and enough length — everyone but Reave…

Analysts Release Early Timberwolves-Lakers Game 1 Prediction: Early Look Favors LA to Win

The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are scheduled to meet in Game 1 of their NBA playoffs series at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, April 19, 2025, starting at 8:30PM ET.

NBA exec asks concerning question for Lakers in matchup vs Timberwolves expecting rough time for Austin Reaves

An NBA executive asked a concerning question to the LA Lakers involving Austin Reaves ahead of their first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Austin Reaves: Lakers Locked In & Ready For War Against Timberwolves

There is no easy matchup in these Western Conference playoffs and that is certainly the case for the Los Angeles Lakers drawing the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. But regardless of who they play, the Lakers have a trio of playmakers in Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves that no team can match. This will be Reaves’ third trip to the playoffs, but first without having to go through the Play-In Tournament first. And with a whol…