2024-25 Western Conference First-Round Preview: No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves v. No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers

2024-25 Western Conference First-Round Preview: No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves v. No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers

The 2024-25 NBA Playoffs are here! The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to capitalize off a very strong end to their season against Luka Doncic, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling first-round matchup. Let’s not waste any more time and dive into our series preview here!

GAME	DATE	MATCHUP	TIME (EST)	TV
Game 1	Saturday, April 19	Timberwolves @ Lakers	8:30 p.m.	ABC
Game 2	Tuesday, April 22	Timberwolves @ Lakers	10:00 p.m.	TNT
Game 3	Friday, April 25	Lakers @ Timberwolves	9:30 p.m.	ESPN
Game 4	Sunday, April 27	Lakers @ Timberwolves	3:30 p.m.	ABC
Game 5*	Wednesday, April 30	Timberwolves @ Lakers	TBD	TBD
Game 6*	Friday, May 2	Lakers @ Timberwolves	TBD	TBD
Game 7*	Friday, April 4	Timberwolves @ Lakers	TBD	TBD

What to know about the Minnesota Timberwolves:

Starters:

• Mike Conley
• Anthony Edwards
• Rudy Gobert
• Jaden McDaniels
• Julius Randle

Key Reserves:

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker
• Donte DiVincenzo
• Naz Reid

The Timberwolves stunned the then-reigning champion Denver Nuggets in seven games last year. While they did get bouned in five games to Doncic’s Mavericks in five, it was their best season in two decades.

However, they made a controversial move trading away Karl-Anthony Towns in a three-team deal ahead of the season to obtain some future flexibility. However, they got worse in the short term with Julius Randle manning the frontcourt instead of Towns.

Fortunately, Anthony Edwards had, by far, the best offensive season of his career. He averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists on 44.7 percent shooting, including 39.5 percent from deep, leading the NBA in made 3-pointers (320).

Minnesota enters the postseason as one of the league’s hottest teams. They have the second-best offense and seventh-best defense since the start of March. Will they be able to parlay that into postseason success for the second consecutive year?

What to know about the Los Angeles Lakers:

Starters:

• Luka Doncic
• Austin Reaves
• LeBron James
• Rui Hachimura
• Jaxson Hayes

Key Reserves:

• Dorian Finney-Smith
• Gabe Vincent
• Jarred Vanderbilt

There were plenty of questions surrounding Los Angeles heading into the 2024-25 season. How was JJ Redick going to be as his first year as the head coach? Could LeBron James and Anthony Davis stay healthy for a second-straight year? Did the Lakers have enough depth to supplement those two? How would Austin Reaves’ role continue to develop?

Well, Redick was excellent as a first-year head coach, James continued to look like he was 30 instead of 40 and, well, some guy named Luka Doncic landed in their lap. Ever heard of him?!? After being acquired in January, Dorian Finney-Smith was everything as advertised as a very quality 3-and-D wing; Gabe Vincent had a resurgent (and healthy) second season in Los Angeles while Hayes and Hachimura were both solid role players.

This season was a resounding success for the Lakers. A big part of that was adding Doncic, but several key pieces blossomed in their roles and improved throughout the season.

Key Questions:

1. How does Minnesota’s offense look when the ball is not in Anthony Edwards’ hands?

There’s no question that Edwards will be one of the best offensive players on the floor this series? However, I can’t say I love his supporting cast. Julius Randle’s has historically been a terrible playoff performer; Rudy Gobert is Rudy Gobert and I don’t think anyone can consistently rely upon Mike Conley to generate open shots at this stage of his career.

Players not named Anthony Edwards will have to make shots. Lakers will do everything they can to get the ball out of his hands. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo are all quality 3-point shooters, but the line gets drawn there.

2. How do the Lakers deal with Minnesota’s overwhelming size advantage in frontcourt?

Jaxson Hayes is Los Angeles’ only regular rotation player who’s 6-foot-9 or taller. Minnesota has four: McDaniels, Randle, Gobert and Naz Reid. The Lakers are much quicker, where they will be able to create advantages getting downhill. The Lakers also have Luka Doncic and the Timberwolves don’t.

But I’m still curious how Redick decides to counter Minnesota’s size defensively. More importantly, can Gobert outplay Hayes? Can Randle and McDaniels exert their will against LeBron, Finney-Smith and Hachimura? Can the Lakers survive on the glass against a top-10 rebounding team in the NBA?

Prediction: Lakers in 7

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