The Minnesota Timberwolves might by no means discover their true stride final night time, dropping Recreation 2 of their first-round sequence towards the Los Angeles Lakers 94-85. Luka Doncic’s 31-point double-double, paired with LeBron James’ 21-point double-double, stored Los Angeles in management for many of the night time.
It was a disappointing taking pictures efficiency from famous person guard Anthony Edwards, who shot 45% from the sphere and simply 25% from past the arc. The shortage of changes by Head Coach Chris Finch in Recreation 2 raised issues, and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith pointed to the Wolves’ inconsistency as a troubling signal.
“I do know he’s a great coach [Finch], I actually, actually do — however I gotta take a look at teaching,” Smith mentioned on First Take this morning. “When traditionally you’re a bit haphazard, you’re a bit bipolar — what you’re one night time, you might not be the subsequent night time. That is one thing that has occurred to them offensively occurring two years.”
Doncic has been on a tear by means of the primary two video games, just like his efficiency towards Minnesota in final 12 months’s Western Convention Finals. The Timberwolves might want to discover a approach to comprise him in the event that they hope to win the sequence.
Regardless of the win, Los Angeles was not overly spectacular. The Lakers allowed Minnesota to remain within the sport and shot simply 21% from three-point vary. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst expressed disappointment in each groups’ performances to date.
“I’ll give them a go that it was the primary two video games of the sequence — it’s going to be a protracted sequence — I simply wasn’t impressed both manner,” Windhorst mentioned on First Take. “Luka has given Minnesota all types of issues the final two years. If I needed to look into the long run and say how this sequence goes to go, I don’t see how Minnesota stops him. So I lean towards the Lakers. Luka most likely carries them, however Ant Edwards hasn’t been nice these first two video games, and what was alarming final night time was him saying he was confused by the protection the Lakers placed on him.”
Changes will should be made earlier than Recreation 3 on Friday night time in Minnesota. Try the movies of Smith and Windhorst from First Take this morning.
.@WindhorstESPN wasn’t impressed by the play of both group within the Lakers’ Recreation 2 win over the Wolves 😳
“One in all these two groups thinks that they will run by means of the West taking part in this fashion?” 👀 pic.twitter.com/GrbYsHYrlY
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 23, 2025
“Everyone and their grandmother is aware of [Julius Randle] goes left.” 😅 @stephenasmith calls out Anthony Edwards and coach Chris Finch for the Wolves’ offense being too “predictable” in Recreation 2 towards the Lakers 👀 pic.twitter.com/Wm4JscjOyf
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 23, 2025
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