Luka Doncic shines but Lakers fall to Timberwolves in playoff opener
- The Lakers debuted Luka Doncic in a playoff match against the Timberwolves on April 19, 2025.
- Despite Doncic's individual success with 37 points, the Lakers were outperformed by Minnesota's balanced team effort.
- Los Angeles is under pressure to improve their team chemistry after Doncic's midseason trade and regroup before Game 2.
In the United States, during the NBA playoffs, Luka Doncic made his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers after a midseason trade from the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first-round playoff match on April 19, 2025. Doncic entered the game with significant anticipation, having previously excelled in the playoffs. He opened the game strong, scoring 16 points in the first quarter, eventually finishing with 37 points and eight rebounds. Despite his stellar performance, the Lakers lost to the Timberwolves with a final score of 117-95. This defeat was compounded by the Wolves' collective and balanced scoring approach. Notably, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid spearheaded the Timberwolves' offensive effort, scoring 25 and 23 points, respectively. The Lakers, who have been adjusting their strategy to integrate Doncic alongside LeBron James, struggled against Minnesota's physicality and effective three-point shooting, especially in the second quarter. The loss marked a disappointing playoff start for the Lakers, who are still in the early phases of building team chemistry with Doncic only joining them two and a half months prior. Game 2 of the series is scheduled for April 22, 2025, where the Lakers will seek to rebound and level the series.