In a shocking turn of events, the Los Angeles Lakers, powered by the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James, fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening game of the NBA playoffs. The Lakers, 17-time champions, were صاحب of a 37-point explosion from Doncic, but it wasn’t enough as the Timberwolves routed them 117-95 at home.

“This was a reality check for us,” said LeBron James after the game. “We can’t come out flat like that in a playoff game, especially at home.”

The Timberwolves set a team record for the most made threes in a playoff game, draining 21 from beyond the arc. Three players scored over 20 points for Minnesota.

Other Play-In Results

• The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110 in overtime thanks to a near triple-double from Nikola Jokic.
• The Indiana Pacers easily dispatched the Milwaukee Bucks 117-98, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the Bucks with 36 points.
• The New York Knicks won 123-112 against the Detroit Pistons, marking Detroit’s first playoff appearance since 2018.

Upcoming Games

• The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Miami Heat, and the Boston Celtics take on the Orlando Magic in their respective playoff openers.
• In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder clash with the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Houston Rockets battle the Golden State Warriors.