6 TIMBERWOLVES at 3 LAKERS FULL GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
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00:00Welcome, everyone, to Los Angeles, a city fueled by star power, powerful, profound star power,
00:07supersized and outsized star power, the type of star power that had the Lakers and Timberwolves
00:13poised for a run at the Larry O'Brien Trophy. LeBron James at 40 continues to defy the odds.
00:20Can he get Luka Doncic across the finish line and get back to the finals again? Meanwhile,
00:25make no mistake, that guy right there, Anthony Edwards, believes that he is the biggest star
00:29in the constellation of stars tonight. Let's take some inventory tomorrow. It'll be game one between
00:35OKC and Memphis on ABC, Los Angeles and Minnesota three against six here tonight, and Houston will
00:42play game one at home against Golden State tomorrow. When he played his first playoff game, his son,
00:49Ronnie, was 18 months old. Let's take a look at the starting lineups for the respective teams tonight
00:58for the Lakers. It'll be James, Rui Hachimura, Jackson Hayes at the five, Austin Reeves and Luka Doncic in the backboard
01:06for the Lakers. Meanwhile, for the visitors, it's Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, big X factor for Minnesota,
01:13Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, and Mike Conley riding out the starting five for Minnesota.
01:19Jimberwolves finished the season on a 17-4 sprint, playing some of the best basketball of the season.
01:27And Julius Randle, in particular, seemed to find his rhythm, especially at the offensive end of the floor.
01:34Big series for Randle. Was not able to participate in the playoffs a season ago due to injury as a member of the Knicks.
01:46And we are underway. McDaniels will be trying to stick Doncic defensively.
01:52Opportunity for the Lakers. Here's Luka.
01:55Guarded by Randle this time. Good contest.
02:00Doncic with four quick points for the Lakers.
02:03Here's Reeves. He drives the closeout.
02:08Luka with the cut. And away.
02:11Minnesota just cannot allow those second-chance opportunities.
02:14Nobody's giving Los Angeles extra possessions to start this game.
02:19Doncic sees two. Pardon me.
02:22That was Anthony Edwards saw two.
02:24Got through the lane.
02:25Austin Reeves had that shot right at the beginning, but so smart,
02:29taking it into the middle of the lane, drawn two, and kicking it.
02:32And Randle.
02:34Doncic off the dribble handoff.
02:36Vinnie Smith checked into the ballgame.
02:38And Luka is on one right now to start this game.
02:45Hachimura from the laces it.
02:49Another offensive rebound.
02:52And one of only four teams.
02:54And you're talking about OKC, Boston, and Cleveland as the other three.
02:57All 60-win teams as McDaniels hits the wing three to make it a five-point lead for the Lakers.
03:04Shot defense against the Lakers has been pretty good to start,
03:07but they've given up so many offensive rebounds.
03:10Doncic is locked in.
03:13We're on a fish-grease alert right now.
03:15He's up to 12 already here in the first quarter.
03:18Using him as a screener, then he just pops right back out.
03:21Now's Reed with a classy move to the basket.
03:25Devin Chinza with a rebound.
03:27Edwards running the lane in full flight.
03:29Raises up and lays it home.
03:30That time they finish, Jay.
03:32Well, that's how he can get going a little bit.
03:34Finch makes the call offensively.
03:40Edwards steps through and lays it home on the floater.
03:43Just parked in the corner for a step-in three.
03:47Here's Randle.
03:48Cross-court to Alexander Walker from deep.
03:50He's been shooting it at over 40% this year.
03:53So you have to take away his left.
03:55The catch-and-shoot opportunities.
03:56He knocks down those open ones.
03:59Inside.
03:59Vando got his own miss.
04:03Vanderbilt back out to Finney-Smith.
04:04Open from deep.
04:05Randles it home.
04:07We're here in Los Angeles for the first round.
04:09Presented by ESPN Bet Sportsbook with Chris Finch,
04:11the head coach of the T-Wolves.
04:13What did you make of that first quarter for your squad?
04:15Yeah, too many second-chance points.
04:16I think they had 11 of them.
04:17That's really where they got a bunch of their cheap threes.
04:20And, you know, we did a good job in the first shot defense.
04:23Got to take care of that.
04:24Donchich 16 in that first quarter.
04:26How do you try to limit his effectiveness?
04:27Yeah, we're going to throw different things at him.
04:29But, you know, again, we got to take care of the glass when we make them.
04:32Chris, good luck.
04:33All right, guys.
04:33Back to you.
04:34It's interesting that LeBron, for the first time in a playoff game,
04:39did not score in the first quarter.
04:43What a game a little bit earlier between the Clippers and the Nuggets.
04:46Reeves on the drive.
04:48Little giant killer, giant slayer over McDaniels.
04:52And speaking of drives, Alexander Walker into Randle.
04:5510 on the shot clock.
04:57Back out to Reed for three for the lead.
05:00Got it.
05:01And Minnesota has stormed back here in the early portion of the second quarter.
05:05Dunks this year for the Lakers.
05:09But it gives them a little more rim protection with him in there.
05:11McDaniels left that short.
05:12Got it back and laid it in over Hachimura.
05:16Both freshmen together playing for Mike Hopkins is now with the Phoenix Suns.
05:21James spins.
05:22Fires.
05:23Got it.
05:23And one.
05:24LeBron James on the board.
05:26Good defense by DiVincenzo.
05:29Alexander Walker on the fly.
05:31James packed up.
05:32He knew that all the way.
05:36Timed that out perfectly.
05:38Sees two.
05:39Good nail help by LeBron.
05:41Races up anyway and it comes off.
05:43Back out to Reed for three.
05:45And Nas Reed laces the deep one.
05:48And Gobert got the block on James.
05:51Off and running again.
05:52A three on two.
05:53Reed out to the three-point line.
05:55Splash down.
05:56Timeout Lakers.
05:59Here's Edwards with six points in the ballgame.
06:01Facing Finney Smith.
06:04They shrink the floor on him.
06:05Randle on the drive.
06:06The kick to Reed.
06:08And another three ball by the reigning six man of the year.
06:12He's got the athleticism and strength to go through just about anybody.
06:15Go over.
06:17Here's the king with the ball.
06:18James out front against Reed.
06:21A long two is good.
06:24James with the rebound.
06:25Another opportunity for Los Angeles.
06:28Ten on the shot clock.
06:30Penny Smith.
06:31Back to James.
06:33Foul and one.
06:36And is the inbounder.
06:39DiVincenzo.
06:40Here he is off the wide action.
06:41And DiVincenzo pulls it.
06:43And laces the deep three.
06:46Dante with some dynamite to end the first half.
06:50And they outscored the Lakers 20-10 in the paint.
06:53And really shut off the offensive glass in that second quarter.
06:56Where they outscored L.A. by 18.
06:59Edwards sprays it out to McDaniels.
07:00The corner three is pure.
07:02Shot clock down to five.
07:04Edwards got to get busy.
07:05Got downhill.
07:07Floater comes off.
07:08Got it back.
07:09Randle from deep.
07:11And they cash in on a second opportunity.
07:15Reeves was one of six in that first half.
07:18Minnesota went after him on the defensive end.
07:21Edwards.
07:21It's butter.
07:23Minnesota on a roll.
07:25They didn't score any fast break points in that first half.
07:28As you mentioned, Jay.
07:29And that they need to get back to being the aggressors.
07:31We've seen that certainly carry on here.
07:33As LeBron James nails a three-pointer from the corner.
07:36Yeah, the last time these two teams met.
07:38Ironically in the conference finals.
07:40Rudy Gobert converting on the high handoff.
07:45Back out to Edwards.
07:46One more to Randle.
07:47Got Luka in the air.
07:49Float game.
07:50Comes out.
07:50Got it back.
07:51Randle and one.
07:53Julius Randle putting some muscle in his hustle.
07:56It takes some time after a trade for everybody to get used to one another.
08:01They turn over Donchich.
08:03Connelly pulls the three.
08:05And it's all coming up good for the Timberwolves.
08:08Two on the shot clock.
08:10Hachimura has to pull.
08:12And that's a great stop for Minnesota.
08:14About as tough a two as you're going to take.
08:17Off the dribble three.
08:19Anthony Edwards.
08:20Hotter than fish grease.
08:21Donchich looking for the post up.
08:23And Reeves almost threw it away.
08:24He does.
08:25McDaniels.
08:26And Minnesota has numbers.
08:29McDaniels out to the corner.
08:30Edwards sets his feet.
08:32Wet.
08:33That thing splashes again.
08:35He had been just two of 19 from three in April.
08:40Found his groove at the right time.
08:41So did this guy.
08:42Nods Reid connects again.
08:44Jay, I ask you, what has happened to the prolific production of Donchich that we saw in the first quarter?
08:55Well, the resolute on the offensive end.
08:57You've got a big lead here.
08:59You cannot be turning the ball over like that.
09:01They just did.
09:02Here's James.
09:04Puts his shoulder down.
09:05Put his head down.
09:06Got the lay.
09:09Minnesota just playing five out.
09:11And Austin Reid went for another shot back.
09:14Got an easy one there.
09:16Somebody with the snooze button defensively for Minnesota.
09:21Lead back up to 19.
09:23Donchich has to work expeditiously.
09:26And got it to go.
09:28Off glass at the buzzer.
09:32This huge momentum shift there.
09:34How did you guys able to trim that lead there in the third?
09:36We finally played with an intensity level that warrants the playoffs.
09:42Like, our physicality, our effort, it was regular season to start.
09:48And then how do you close them out?
09:49What is the most important factor, JJ?
09:51We've got to get stops.
09:52And it's not really scheme stuff.
09:54There's nothing schematically they're doing that's exploiting us.
09:57We've just got to be better on that end.
09:59Good luck, JJ.
10:00Guys, back to you.
10:00That could potentially be crippling for the Timberwolves.
10:06Randall going to do a little bit more heavy lifting at that end of the floor.
10:09Knocks down the middie.
10:12Luka trying to press up on Ant.
10:16With pristine, pulchritudinous footwork, Edwards knocks down the middie.
10:21It looked like it was going to be a little cross screen and then down screen for the screener.
10:25But he cut it short to get that three.
10:28Edwards off the bounce, spins back out to a wide-open Randall.
10:33Cash out.
10:35Got his air fryer out, ready to cook.
10:37Ant-Man gets it back, pulls the three, and it's wet.
10:45Find some of the best basketball of the season towards the end of the year.
10:51James drives the clothes out and punches it home.
10:54Lakers now looking like a little 2-3 zone.
10:59They did a lot of that against Oklahoma City.
11:04McDaniels attacks it.
11:05Got the short middie.
11:06Edwards.
11:07Achimura.
11:11Edwards with the tween.
11:12Over to Reed.
11:13Catching two-three on the way.
11:15And he laces another one.
11:16Wow.
11:17And a little room service off the careless pass.
11:20Deep in chin, so flying charter.
11:23And the lead balloons back to 111-90.
11:28LeBron comes with the double in hell.
11:32Good catch by McDaniels.
11:35Little sidestep.
11:36Little afro step into the paint.
11:39Well, they're outstanding defensively.
11:41The problem for Orlando is they haven't been able to score efficiently.
11:45Yeah.
11:47They really struggle at that end of the floor a lot of times as Dalton connects.
11:52And for Minnesota, who only finished one game off of the Lakers, I mean, they had 49 wins on the season.
11:58But they finished the year 17-4.
12:03And when healthy, they've been as good as anybody.
12:07This is a remarkable basketball game.
12:10Minnesota takes game one.
12:12They say that a series doesn't begin until a home team loses a game.
12:18Well, it has officially started.
12:21Thank you, Jonesy.
12:22And they threw the first punch.
12:23You guys threw the knockout blow.
12:25What kind of statement did you make today?
12:26I don't know, man.
12:29I think we just came out ready to play.
12:31Jaden McDaniels was phenomenal in this game.
12:34You know, what kind of mindset does he have when it comes to these kind of moments?
12:38We tell them every game, man, be the MVP.
12:40Be the MVP of the game on both sides of the ball.
12:42And we knew this series, man, they was going to have faith that he wasn't going to be aggressive all night.
12:48And we told them throughout the whole week, hey, be aggressive the whole game.
12:50Don't stop shooting.
12:51Find your spots.
12:52Trust yourself.
12:53Trust your work.
12:53And he did that.
12:54And here you go right here, the MVP of the night, baby.
12:56Jaden, let's talk to you real quick before we let you guys go.
13:00Just, again, what you were thinking out there, hitting all those shots, having to take on the toughest cover tonight.
13:06What was your mindset?
13:08Man, just going out and playing with confidence.
13:09I know all my teammates trust me.
13:11Ant always tell me, shoot the ball no matter what, miss or make.
13:13And that's what I did tonight.
13:15Ant, you said this week to the media that everybody's picking the Lakers, and you like that.
13:21So, you also sent a text message to your group before this series started.
13:26What was that message to your teammates?
13:28Just, you know, we the underdogs and be aggressive.
13:31Come out ready to fight.
13:32It's going to be a dog fight.
13:32It's going to be tough.
13:33And like I said, man, everybody got to trust their work, trust themselves.
13:36And they did that tonight.
13:37How's the calf?
13:38It's getting better, man, day by day.
13:40And then lastly, how do you guys get greedy and potentially win a second game here?
13:45Nothing different.
13:45Come out with the game, same mindset, and just be aggressive.
13:48And try to throw the first punch and the last punch.
13:50Ant, Jaden, congratulations, guys.