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The Los Angeles Lakers will be challenged when they go up against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs starting on Saturday. Many people's biggest concern for them is Anthony Edwards, the explosive superstar guard who can win games almost by himself.
Edwards averaged 27.6 points a game in the regular season, and he reached the 40-point mark nine times, including twice in his last three games. He scored 44 points on April 10 in a big win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and he tossed in 43 points on Sunday versus the Utah Jazz.
Fortunately, the Lakers have a flamethrower of their own in Luka Doncic, who burned the Timberwolves in last season's Western Conference Finals.
The Dallas Mavericks, Doncic's former team, only finished fifth in the West last season with 50 wins, while Minnesota finished third with a 56-26 record. Few gave them a real shot at winning the series, but Doncic, who led the NBA in scoring last season, made those pundits look foolish.
In Game 1, he scored 33 points, with 15 of them coming in the fourth quarter, and he helped Dallas overcome a 102-98 deficit with 3:37 left to notch a 108-105 win. Two days later, he had a triple-double with 32 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, and he again led his team back from a late deficit.
Dallas was down by 16 early in the third quarter and trailed 108-103 with 1:29 left in the fourth quarter. But after Kyrie Irving hit a 3-pointer, Doncic hit one of his own with 3.1 seconds left over Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert while talking trash to the French native.
Once the series moved to Texas for Game 3, the Slovenian had 33 points as the Mavericks surged late for a 116-107 victory and a 3-0 series lead. They allowed Minnesota to get a concession win in Game 4, but Doncic still had another triple-double with 28 points, 15 boards and 10 assists.
He then helped conclude the series with 36 points on 14-of-22 overall shooting and 6-of-10 from 3-point range in a 124-103 Game 5 victory.
Lakers fans are hoping for a repeat of that type of play from their favorite team's new superstar over the next fortnight or so — and beyond.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: A look back at Luka Doncic versus the Timberwolves in the 2024 WCF
Continue reading...
Edwards averaged 27.6 points a game in the regular season, and he reached the 40-point mark nine times, including twice in his last three games. He scored 44 points on April 10 in a big win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and he tossed in 43 points on Sunday versus the Utah Jazz.
Fortunately, the Lakers have a flamethrower of their own in Luka Doncic, who burned the Timberwolves in last season's Western Conference Finals.
The Dallas Mavericks, Doncic's former team, only finished fifth in the West last season with 50 wins, while Minnesota finished third with a 56-26 record. Few gave them a real shot at winning the series, but Doncic, who led the NBA in scoring last season, made those pundits look foolish.
In Game 1, he scored 33 points, with 15 of them coming in the fourth quarter, and he helped Dallas overcome a 102-98 deficit with 3:37 left to notch a 108-105 win. Two days later, he had a triple-double with 32 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, and he again led his team back from a late deficit.
Dallas was down by 16 early in the third quarter and trailed 108-103 with 1:29 left in the fourth quarter. But after Kyrie Irving hit a 3-pointer, Doncic hit one of his own with 3.1 seconds left over Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert while talking trash to the French native.
Once the series moved to Texas for Game 3, the Slovenian had 33 points as the Mavericks surged late for a 116-107 victory and a 3-0 series lead. They allowed Minnesota to get a concession win in Game 4, but Doncic still had another triple-double with 28 points, 15 boards and 10 assists.
He then helped conclude the series with 36 points on 14-of-22 overall shooting and 6-of-10 from 3-point range in a 124-103 Game 5 victory.
Lakers fans are hoping for a repeat of that type of play from their favorite team's new superstar over the next fortnight or so — and beyond.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: A look back at Luka Doncic versus the Timberwolves in the 2024 WCF
Continue reading...
