By Sunday 
Magic Johnson Had Time—and the Lakers Felt It
When Magic Johnson speaks, Laker Nation listens. And after watching the Lakers get steamrolled by the Timberwolves in a humbling Game 1 loss, Magic didn’t mince words.
“Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season but he didn’t do a good job for Game 1,” he wrote on X. That’s not something Magic tosses around lightly. It wasn’t just coaching, though—Magic questioned the team’s energy, saying, “They were flat, had no energy, and they played like it was a regular season game.”
Ouch.
But was he wrong? Not really.
A Game 1 Gut Punch
The Lakers looked solid—for 12 minutes. They led 28–21 after the first quarter, and then… the wheels came off. Minnesota flipped the script and outscored the Lakers 96–67 the rest of the way, turning Crypto.com Arena into a Timberwolves highlight reel.
It wasn’t just that the Lakers lost. It’s how they lost.
The Wolves shot a red-hot 50% from three, going 21-for-42 from deep. The Lakers? A chilly 36.6% from beyond the arc and an overall 39.8% from the field. That’s not going to cut it—not in the playoffs.
Luka Did His Part, But He Was on an Island
Luka Doncic was the one Laker who showed up ready for war, dropping 37 points on 12-of-22 shooting. But his teammates? Not so much.
LeBron James had 19 points and looked like he was playing on half a tank. Austin Reaves, usually reliable, struggled to get anything going efficiently. And the bench? Virtually invisible, scoring just 12 points while Minnesota’s second unit poured in 43.
It was domination from top to bottom—and Naz Reid led the charge with 23 off the bench. Let’s not forget Jaden McDaniels going full “who invited him?” mode with a game-high 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting.
Redick’s First Playoff Test Comes With a Reality Check
This was JJ Redick’s playoff debut as a head coach. And it showed. No real adjustments. Too much isolation. Not enough urgency.
Minnesota, on the other hand, looked like the team with all the answers. Anthony Edwards ran the show with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, but it was Minnesota’s depth and execution that left the biggest mark.
What’s Next: Urgency, or Chaos
Look, Magic’s outburst might sting, but he’s not wrong. Game 1 looked more like a Wednesday in February than a playoff opener.
Still, let’s not press the panic button just yet.
Minnesota isn’t likely to shoot 50% from deep again. The Lakers probably won’t be that lifeless again. And Redick, despite the growing pains, has proven to be a fast learner.
But Game 2? It’s now a must-win. Not just for momentum—but to prove Magic wrong, quiet the doubters, and remind everyone that this team still has championship DNA.
Lakers, the wake-up call’s already been made. Time to answer it.