JJ Redick was in a somber mood following the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 1 stinker against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Redick’s Lakers were hot to start their first-round series against the T-Wolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. The purple and gold led took a 28-21 advantage into the second quarter.
But Minnesota punched back with a 14-2 run to start the second quarter. The Timberwolves outmuscled the Lakers the rest of the way, leading by as many as 27 points in their 117-95 Game 1 triumph.
During his postgame press conference, Redick was asked about what led to the Lakers’ unraveling in the second and third quarters.
“We were mentally ready. … I’m not sure, physically, we were ready,” admitted Redick. “When they started to play with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn’t respond immediately to that.”
"I'm not sure, physically, we were ready"
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 20, 2025
Lakers HC JJ Redick on Game 1 against Minnesota pic.twitter.com/TAmpzEQo39
The Timberwolves successfully exploited the Lakers’ lack of size in the interior. Los Angeles played starting center Jaxson Hayes just eight minutes, as Redick primarily deployed small-ball units with Dorian Finney-Smith as the team’s de facto center.
The Timberwolves’ size and willingness to get physical paid off immensely on the defensive end. The Lakers shot below 40% from the field as nobody outside of Luka Doncic could get it going offensively.
Minnesota repeatedly turned defense into offense in its 22-point victory. The T-Wolves had 19 more fastbreak points than the Lakers and also drained a franchise-record 21 three-pointers.
Redick could have probably benefited from having a bruising 7-foot center in the Lakers’ lineup, just like the one Los Angeles nearly acquired at the February trade deadline.
