Lebron James and their 1st Round Loss to Timberwolves

The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, suffered a significant 117-95 loss at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Here’s a breakdown of the game and LeBron James’ performance:

Game Result: Minnesota Timberwolves 117, Los Angeles Lakers 95. This gives the Timberwolves a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and home-court advantage.

LeBron James’ Stats: In 36 minutes of play, LeBron James scored 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field (1-of-5 from three-point range) and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. He also recorded 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

Lakers’ Performance: After a strong first quarter, the Lakers struggled significantly, allowing the Timberwolves to take control of the game. The Timberwolves out-rebounded the Lakers (44-38), scored more points in the paint (44-32), had more second-chance points (23-20), and forced more turnovers (13-10). The Lakers shot under 40% from the field as a team.

LeBron’s Comments: Following the game, LeBron James stated, “I don’t think we did a good enough job after the first quarter.” He also mentioned that perhaps it took one playoff game for the Lakers to get a feel for the intensity and physicality of the playoffs.

Analyst Reaction: Some analysts noted that LeBron James seemed to lack his usual energy during the game. There was also discussion about an ESPN announcer’s comment that James is “not a complainer” after James was seen arguing with a referee.

Looking Ahead: The Lakers will need to adjust and perform better in Game 2, which will also be played in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 22nd. LeBron James expressed confidence that his team would be more prepared for the physicality in the next game.