The Los Angeles Lakers just wrapped up their first-ever playoff game with Luka Doncic at the helm. On a positive note, Doncic played well, finishing the night with 37 points and eight rebounds. Unfortunately for the purple and gold, they were unable to secure a victory, as the Minnesota Timberwolves earned a 117-95 win in Game 1 of the series.
Led by Jaden McDaniels (25 points), Naz Reid (23 points), and Anthony Edwards (22 points), the Wolves raced out to a monster win on the back of their 25 fast-break points. And as the night went on, there were some very clear flaws in the Lakers’ game plan.
And McDaniels was very quick to point out one of them after the game.
Jaden McDaniels called out a major Lakers flaw
When speaking with reporters post-game, McDaniels noted that the Lakers’ small-ball lineups worked out very well for the Wolves, as he got to be the tallest player on the floor.
“If [Jaxson Hayes] isn’t out there, I’m basically the tallest person out there,” McDaniels said via Ben Golliver of The Washington Post. “I don’t think no one [could] really rim protect me because Jaxson Hayes wasn’t on the court.”
Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels on Lakers’ center-less lineups after Minnesota’s Game 1 win: “If [Jaxson Hayes] isn’t out there, I’m basically the tallest person out there. I don’t think no one call really rim protect me because Jaxson Hayes wasn’t on the court.”
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 20, 2025
Not usually known as a scorer, McDaniels managed to pick apart the Lakers’ defense for stretches of this game. His 25 points came on 11-of-13 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from behind the three-point line.
He also pulled down nine rebounds, including four on the offensive end of the floor, giving the Wolves a huge boost in his 33:18 of action.
Rudy Gobert only ended up playing 24:29 in this game, as Minnesota was able to get away with playing smaller players (and because Reid was on fire for most of the evening).
Hayes, who JJ Redick started at the five spot, only played 8:13, and decided not to deploy another center off the bench. Dorian Finney-Smith (32:30) and Jarred Vanderbilt (13:31) both stepped in and played some small-ball five, but neither is big enough to stand up to McDaniels super well.
LA tried to fix their center problem at the deadline when they traded for Mark Williams, but that deal ended up getting rescinded. Now, it will undoubtedly be a focal point of their offseason plans, as Hayes is much better suited to be a backup than a full-time starter.
For the time being, Redick will have to continue to be creative throughout the series, as the Lakers’ weak point at the five has already been exploited.
