LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Edwards was not at all surprised when the Minnesota Timberwolves showed enough talent and togetherness to turn Luka Doncic's playoff debut with the Lakers into a rout for the visitors.
Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points, Naz Reid added 23 with six 3-pointers, and the Timberwolves overcame Doncic's 37-point effort for a 117-95 victory Saturday night.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo collide during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Alex Rodriguez, co-owner, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, claps during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Los Angeles Lakers, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after being hit in the face by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle as Randle was shooting during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after missing a pass during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts after being hit in the face by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle as Randle was shooting during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo gestures after making a three-point shot during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, center, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, and forward LeBron James defend during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, dries toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo defends during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and forward LeBron James (23) defend during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, left, gestures as Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic talks to him after Gobert tripped over Doncic during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after missing a pass during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts to a foul call that went against him during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, left, and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James grapple for the ball during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9), center Rudy Gobert and center Naz Reid defend during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, center, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, right, and guard Luka Doncic defend during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, center, and center Naz Reid defend during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, top, trips over Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, right, reaches in on Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Edwards had 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the first-round series opener for the sixth-seeded Wolves, who have won 18 of their last 22 games.
“I got a great group of guys," Edwards said. "But it wasn’t tonight. I learned that in training camp. It just takes a minute for us to gel as a new team. It just took a minute for us to figure each other out, and I feel like now we just go.”
The Timberwolves weathered Doncic’s 16-point first quarter in front of a roaring LA crowd before taking control with a 38-20 second quarter.
They poured it on after halftime, too. Julius Randle and Edwards hit four 3-pointers apiece as the Timberwolves made a franchise playoff-record 21 3-pointers on 42 attempts — with many of those shots taken without a defender in sight.
“It means Game 1,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “We know it’s going to be a long series. We’re not under any assumption that it’s going to be this type of game in Game 2. It’ll be a completely different game. We got a lot left. A lot of meat on the bone out there. A lot of things. I know we can do better.”
LeBron James had 19 points to begin his 18th NBA postseason, but the third-seeded Lakers were overwhelmed by the Wolves' shot-making and playoff poise.
“This Minnesota team, they’re going to be physical,” James said. “That’s what they bring to the table. It took us one game ... (to) understand that. They took homecourt advantage from us tonight, but we have to control the controllables, and if we do that, we’ll have a much better chance to win than we did tonight.”
While Los Angeles is still searching for chemistry after acquiring Doncic two months ago, Minnesota is eager to improve on last season’s run to the Western Conference finals.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
One day after the Dallas Mavericks’ season ended in the Play-In Tournament, Doncic produced the 11th-highest scoring playoff game of his career — and it wasn’t nearly enough, thanks to the Timberwolves’ prolific team effort.
“I think the first quarter, we played the way we play,” Doncic said. “I think we played physical. Everyone was locked in, and then we just kind of let go of the rope. So we’ve got to be way more physical.”
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo collide during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Alex Rodriguez, co-owner, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, claps during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Los Angeles Lakers, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after being hit in the face by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle as Randle was shooting during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after missing a pass during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts after being hit in the face by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle as Randle was shooting during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo gestures after making a three-point shot during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, center, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, and forward LeBron James defend during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, dries toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo defends during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and forward LeBron James (23) defend during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, left, gestures as Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic talks to him after Gobert tripped over Doncic during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after missing a pass during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts to a foul call that went against him during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, left, and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James grapple for the ball during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9), center Rudy Gobert and center Naz Reid defend during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, center, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, right, and guard Luka Doncic defend during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, center, and center Naz Reid defend during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, top, trips over Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, right, reaches in on Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
