Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves April 25, 2025 Key points

Venue and Broadcast: Game 3 was the first playoff game in Minnesota, played at 9:30 p.m. ET and televised on ESPN. The home crowd was expected to energize the Timberwolves.

Stakes: The Lakers aimed to steal a road win to take a 2-1 series lead, while the Timberwolves sought to capitalize on their home court and Game 1 momentum. The series was described as a “rock fight,” with both teams emphasizing physicality and defense.

Tactical Focus:

Lakers: Coach JJ Redick stressed defensive urgency, which was effective in Game 2. The Lakers targeted mismatches, particularly Dončić isolating against Rudy Gobert, and used zone-like defenses to crowd Edwards. Their offense relied on Dončić, James, and Austin Reaves (16 points in Game 2), though their three-point shooting was poor (20.7% in Game 2).

Timberwolves: Minnesota needed to revive their three-point shooting after a poor Game 2. Edwards faced challenges from the Lakers’ defensive adjustments, which limited his efficiency (22 shots for 25 points in Game 2). The Wolves leaned on their size advantage (Gobert, Randle) and depth (Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo), but lacked secondary creators beyond Edwards. Fast-break scoring (25-6 edge in Game 1) was a key weapon.

Key Players:

Lakers: Dončić, in his Lakers playoff debut, was central to their offense, with LeBron providing veteran leadership. Reaves and Rui Hachimura (11 points in Game 2) were critical role players. The Lakers’ defense, holding Minnesota to a season-low 85 points in Game 2, was a strength.

Timberwolves: Edwards and Randle were the primary scorers, but McDaniels (8 points in Game 2) and Reid (23 points in Game 1) needed to step up. Gobert’s rim protection and rebounding were vital against L.A.’s interior attack.

Injuries: No major injuries were reported. Edwards had a minor cramp in Game 1, and Reid briefly left after a head injury but returned. The Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes was a potential factor against Minnesota’s size, though his impact was limited.