The Timberwolves didn’t just steal Game 1 — they absolutely hijacked the Lakers’ party and turned Crypto.com Arena into a scene of stunned silence. It was supposed to be Luka Doncic’s big L.A. playoff debut, a LeBron-Luka showcase. Instead, it turned into the Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels masterclass, with Naz Reid casually lighting up from deep like he was hooping in an empty gym.
And now, just like that, the Lakers trail 0–1 in a series that many thought would be a formality. But while the Wolves look locked in, Game 1 wasn’t all smooth sailing. With some key players pushing through knocks and cramps, Game 2’s injury status is suddenly worth keeping an eye on. Especially for Ant.
Lakers vs Timberwolves Game 2 Injury Report: Who’s in, who’s out
Let’s get this out of the way first — Anthony Edwards had a scare. Midway through the third quarter, Ant reached for his left leg, left the court, and had Wolves fans everywhere holding their breath. But no need to panic — it was just a cramp. He was back in the fourth, barking out plays, clapping on defense, and slamming the door shut on the Lakers’ comeback hopes. Edwards finished with 22 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds — just a couple of plays away from a triple-double. He’s good to go for Game 2.
Feb 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after being ejected during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Naz Reid is also healthy and the Sixth Man candidate torched the nets for 23 bench points on 6-of-9 three‑point shooting. More importantly, Minnesota looked better when he was on the floor instead of Rudy Gobert. Don’t expect Finch to change the starting lineup just yet, but if Gobert keeps getting cooked in switches, expect more Naz. He’s too valuable to keep chained to the bench when buckets are needed.
Julius Randle, meanwhile, didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet but anchored the break, fueling a 16–2 transition run that blew the game open. His postgame quote said it all: “We blew the game open with our transition off stops.” And he wasn’t lying. The Lakers had no answer once the Wolves started pushing the pace. Randle’s role may be low-key, but it’s crucial, especially as this series gets more physical. This leaves only Rob Dillingham as out on the injury report due to a sprained ankle.
Luka did Luka things, but Ant looked flat-out better
Luka Doncic came out swinging. Sixteen in the first quarter, 20 by halftime, a half-court buzzer-beater to end the third. It had all the makings of one of those Luka nights. And yet… it didn’t matter. Because the Timberwolves looked like the better team, top to bottom.
Jaden McDaniels deserves a whole mixtape for his Game 1 performance. Defensively, he gave Luka more problems than anyone else on the floor — constantly switching, recovering, and contesting shots without fouling. But the real surprise? He poured in 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting, making all three of his corner threes and crashing the boards for a game-high nine rebounds. The Lakers treated him like a non-shooter, and he punished them.
Then there’s that bench gap. The Wolves’ bench scored 43 points. The Lakers’? Just 13. That’s not a gap — that’s an abyss. When Naz Reid is knocking down threes, Kyle Anderson is running point-forward sets, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is getting scrappy minutes, the Wolves can hit you from all angles. Meanwhile, the Lakers had no answers outside of Luka and a quiet 19 from LeBron.
CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 07: Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards 5 during the first half against the Chicago Bulls on November 7, 2024 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire NBA, Basketball Herren, USA NOV 07 Timberwolves at Bulls EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon24110782
Minnesota head coach has his concerns as well. “We know we’re going to face a wholly different animal (Tuesday) night, and we’ve got to be ready,” David Finch told Sports Illustrated, setting the stage for a showdown on Tuesday night.
And that brings it back to Ant. He didn’t have the flashiest scoring night, but he was everywhere. He ran the offense, took on leadership duties, and shut down any sign of life the Lakers had late. Finch said it best: “The best version of Ant is when he’s flirting with a triple-double.” Right now, he’s doing more than flirt — he’s controlling the whole vibe of this team.
Game 2 goes down Tuesday night, and the Lakers are already staring down a must-win. But if Ant is healthy and locked in, Naz keeps cooking, and McDaniels keeps making life miserable for Luka, this series might shift from “competitive” to “Wolves have this.” Buckle up — Minnesota isn’t playing around.
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