The Los Angeles Lakers slumped to a 117-95 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening game of their NBA Western Conference first-round play-off.
Jaden McDaniels top scored with 25 points for the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, who were the only away team to win in the opening matches of the best-of-seven post-season series.
Naz Reid scored 23 points off the bench while Anthony Edwards added 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Minnesota, who led by 27 points at one stage.
Lakers star LeBron James, who is chasing a fifth title in his 22nd NBA season, failed to score in the opening quarter for the third seeds but went on to hit 19 points.
Luka Doncic, in his first post-season game with the Lakers after arriving from the Dallas Mavericks in February’s high-profile trade, top-scored on 37.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said his team was “mentally ready” but failed to match Minnesota’s physicality.
“I thought our spirit was right,” he said. “I thought even when they made runs our huddles were great, the communication was great.
“But when they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn’t respond immediately to that.”
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