Rating Lakers Players vs. Timberwolves: A Different Game 2 For LeBron And Luka

Luka Doncic drops 31 points in a near triple-double and the Lakers find things very different in Game 1 against the Timberwolves.

8 Min Read

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Luka Doncic flirted with a triple-double and the Los Angeles Lakers responded in a big way, grinding out a 94-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night to even their first-round series at one game apiece.

After getting run off their home floor in Game 1, the Lakers came out with a purpose. Doncic set the tone early, scoring 16 of his 31 points in the first quarter to help the Lakers build a 22-point lead. 

He finished with 12 rebounds and nine assists, spearheading a much-improved effort on both ends of the floor. LeBron James added 21 points, 11 boards, and seven assists in a game that saw more elbows, reviews, and scrapes than flow — 46 fouls were called, with both James and Rui Hachimura taking hard shots to the face. Hachimura played the second half in a protective mask. 

The physicality threw the Timberwolves off rhythm. Anthony Edwards (25 points) and Julius Randle (27) tried to spark a comeback, but Minnesota’s offense never found the groove it had in Game 1, where it torched L.A. with a franchise-record 21 threes. On Tuesday, the Lakers clamped down on the perimeter, closed out with urgency, and forced the Wolves into late-clock looks all night.

Still, Minnesota made things interesting. A 19-point L.A. lead early in the fourth quarter shrank to single digits after the Lakers endured seven minutes without a field goal. But the Wolves couldn’t fully capitalize — missed shots and empty trips derailed any hope of stealing a 2-0 series lead.

With the series tied, the scene now shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Both teams will look to assert control in what’s quickly become a bruising, high-stakes battle.


Luka Doncic: A+

Stats: 31 PTS, 12 REB (1 OREB, 11 DREB), 9 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO, 3 PF, 9-20 FG, 2-8 3PT, 11-11 FT, +12, 42 MIN

Doncic was the best player on the floor, scoring 31 points while nearly recording a triple-double with 12 rebounds and 9 assists. He was in total control offensively and hit all 11 of his free throws. His shot selection from deep (2-of-8) wasn’t ideal, and he had 4 turnovers, but his playmaking and poise led the Lakers throughout.

LeBron James: A-

Stats: 21 PTS, 11 REB (3 OREB, 8 DREB), 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 8-19 FG, 1-5 3PT, 4-4 FT, +9, 40 MIN

LeBron delivered a complete game, scoring 21 points and leading the team with 11 rebounds and 7 assists. He controlled tempo in the halfcourt and attacked the glass, especially early. Despite 4 turnovers and some defensive lapses, his presence kept the Lakers organized. This was a vintage “steadying force” LeBron performance.


Dorian Finney-Smith: B

Stats: 7 PTS, 5 REB (2 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 3-6 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 39 MIN

Finney-Smith was quietly impactful, contributing 7 points and 5 rebounds in 39 high-energy minutes. His defense and floor spacing were key to keeping things steady when the starters rested. He also added a block and was +5 in his time on the court. His contributions won’t show up in highlights, but they mattered.


Rui Hachimura: B

Stats: 11 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 4-9 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-3 FT, +2, 34 MIN

Hachimura played a steady if unspectacular game. He chipped in 11 points on efficient shooting and added 5 rebounds, playing within the flow of the offense. While he wasn’t aggressive, he didn’t force shots either and contributed with 2 steals and a block. His +2 plus-minus reflects a neutral impact, but he held his own defensively.


Austin Reaves: B

Stats: 16 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 7-14 FG, 0-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, +8, 43 MIN

Reaves had a solid two-way performance, scoring 16 points and dishing out 5 assists while handling the ball confidently. He struggled from beyond the arc (0-of-6), which dragged down his efficiency, but he made up for it with timely cuts and midrange finishes. Defensively, he stayed disciplined and didn’t commit many errors.


Gabe Vincent: C

Stats: 6 PTS, 0 REB (0 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-4 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 19 MIN

Vincent provided a nice offensive spark off the bench with 6 points on 2-of-4 shooting from three. He didn’t contribute much else statistically, but his shooting gave the Lakers a mini-boost during a second-half stretch. Defensively, he stayed within his assignment and avoided major mistakes.


Jaxson Hayes: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 9 MIN

Hayes had limited minutes and did very little to stand out. He scored 2 points and grabbed just one rebound in 9 minutes, although he was active enough to record a block. Defensively, he didn’t hurt the team but didn’t help either. His 5 fouls in such a short time were concerning and cut his floor time short.


Jordan Goodwin: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 7 MIN

Goodwin played only 7 minutes and didn’t attempt a shot. He added one rebound but didn’t register any other major stats. He wasn’t on the floor long enough to influence the game in either direction but stayed mistake-free.


Jarred Vanderbilt: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 8 MIN

Vanderbilt was largely ineffective in his short stint. He missed his only shot attempt, had just 1 rebound, and turned it over once. He registered a steal, but his -6 plus-minus in just 8 minutes shows he struggled to positively impact either end.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Eddie Bitar is a senior staff writer for Fadeaway World from Denver, Colorado. Since joining the team in 2017, Eddie has applied his academic background in economics and finance to enhance his sports journalism. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree from and later a Master's degree in Finance, he integrates statistical analysis into his articles. This unique approach provides readers with a deeper understanding of basketball through the lens of financial and economic concepts. Eddie's work has not only been a staple at Fadeaway World but has also been featured in prominent publications such as Sports Illustrated. His ability to break down complex data and present it in an accessible way creates an engaging and informative way to visualize both individual and team statistics. From finding the top 3 point shooters of every NBA franchise to ranking players by cost per point, Eddie is constantly finding new angles to use historical data that other NBA analysts may be overlooking.
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *