The pressure was at its peak for the Lakers after the disappointing loss in the first game of the series. An 0-2 start heading to Minnesota would have been a dangerous condemnation for a franchise accustomed to fighting for glory. With Luka Doncic as the face of a new era in Los Angeles, the team went into the second game with urgency, character… and a very clear strategy: win at all costs.

And they responded. The Angelenos imposed their conditions from the opening jump, dominating the first quarter with authority (34-15) and never letting go of the lead. Doncic, with 31 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, was the spark that ignited the Crypto Arena. With this 94-85 victory, the Lakers tied the series and took a breather before traveling to Minneapolis for what promises to be a war.

Luka sets the pace and Gobert suffers

JJ Redick’s approach was clear from the start: to put Luka face to face against Gobert in every action, forcing situations that would benefit the Slovenian’s offensive reading. While LeBron focused on secondary tasks and Austin Reaves was still looking to rediscover his best version, Doncic took total control of the game. Long dribbles, slow possessions and plays to the limit were part of the script. And it worked: by the end of the first quarter, Luka already had 16 points, surpassing the Timberwolves’ score by himself.

The team’s attitude also changed. The Lakers closed out the defensive rebounding, fought for every possession as if it were their last and played with a very different intensity than in the first game. Although they speculated more than necessary at times, the formula was enough to keep Minnesota at bay, which never found rhythm from the three-point line (20% effectiveness).

Minnesota reacts late and Doncic decides

Despite the lead, the Lakers could not relax. In a tight finish, with many refereeing interruptions and tension in every play, the Timberwolves pulled within nine points with three minutes remaining (90-81). But between Redick’s smart timeout decisions and the hierarchy of Doncic and LeBron, the home side secured the result with smart possessions and tough defense.

“The objective was clear: we had to win,” LeBron said after the game. Although he did not shine as on other nights, he contributed 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists at key moments. Reaves finished with 16 points (0 of 6 on three-pointers), while Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent contributed from the back with defensive effort. On the Minnesota side, Julius Randle (27) and Anthony Edwards (25) were the only ones to put up a fight, although without the accuracy of the first game

The triumph was not spectacular, but it was effective. The Lakers won from the defense, forcing mistakes and limiting the Wolves to just 14 assists for 11 turnovers. It was a battle more physical than tactical, where the purple and gold showed that they are ready to get their hands dirty if necessary. And Luka Doncic, with just a few months on the team, already acts as if he has been in this scenario for years.