Lakers vs Timberwolves Playoff Series Preview

After a long and grinding regular season in the Western Conference, the playoffs are finally here. While higher seeds traditionally dominate lower seeds in the NBA, this year’s West is so deep and competitive that nearly every series feels like a toss-up. There are no easy matchups.

Today, we turn our attention to the Lakers vs. Timberwolves — a first-round clash that’s as compelling as it gets. The Los Angeles Lakers have once again become the premier destination for superstars with the blockbuster acquisition of Luka Dončić. Paired with LeBron James, this creates a star-studded showdown against Minnesota’s own phenom, Anthony Edwards. Key players like Austin Reaves and Julius Randle add even more intrigue, with both expected to play pivotal roles.

Coaching will be a major storyline as well, with J.J. Redick and Chris Finch leading two of the best-prepared squads in the postseason. What makes this series especially fascinating is the stylistic battle: the Lakers bring elite playmaking and a recent surge in three-point shooting through their plethora of wings, while the Timberwolves counter with size, length, and a suffocating defense.

Fans should buckle up for a high-stakes chess match and an electrifying series — one that could go down as one of the most thrilling first-round matchups in recent memory.

The Timberwolves Are for Real

To start, while I’m picking the Lakers in this series, it’s important to highlight just how elite the Timberwolves have been. After a slow start and some injury-related lulls, Minnesota surged to the finish line—going 17–4 since March 1st with a dominant +10.4 point differential. It capped off one of their better regular seasons in franchise history. The Wolves finished fifth in the NBA in overall point differential at +5.2—well ahead of the Lakers, who came in 14th at +1.2—and were one of just five teams to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, a typical key benchmark for legitimate title contenders.

Minnesota’s identity starts with its defense, where they’ve assembled one of the most disruptive units in the league. Their mix of ball pressure, size, and physical rebounding forces teams into tough shots and limits second-chance opportunities. Their perimeter defenders apply constant pressure, often speeding up opposing ball handlers and making even basic tasks—like bringing the ball across half court—feel chaotic. At the core of it all is Rudy Gobert. For all his criticisms, he remains one of the premier rim protectors in the NBA, allowing Minnesota’s guards to aggressively press and swarm on the perimeter with confidence, knowing they have a defensive anchor behind them.

For the Lakers, handling that pressure will be critical. LA’s ball handlers must stay poised, execute their sets cleanly, and avoid costly turnovers. On the other end, Minnesota’s 8-man rotation—featuring Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Donte DiVincenzo, and Naz Reid off the bench—adds valuable perimeter shooting and depth. And at the center of it all is Anthony Edwards. Already one of the league’s brightest young stars, Edwards has taken another leap this year, especially as a shooter—leading the NBA with 320 made threes while hitting 40% from deep on over 10 attempts per game. His ability to explode offensively on any given night gives Minnesota a dynamic, go-to scoring threat that can swing the outcome of a series.

Laker's Elite Playmaking and Shotmaking

The number one reason I’m picking the Lakers in this series is their elite playmaking core: Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. Not only can all three create shots for themselves, but their ability to generate high-quality looks for others—especially in the playoffs—is what sets them apart. The Lakers surround that trio with capable shotmakers and floor spacers like Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent, giving them multiple outlets once the defense breaks down.

Luka and LeBron are two of the best mismatch hunters in the game, and I fully expect them to pull Rudy Gobert out to the perimeter, neutralizing his rim protection. In what has become the Laker's offensive identity as of late, J.J. Redick will likely deploy a 5-out offense featuring Luka, LeBron, Reaves, Rui, and DFS—forcing Minnesota’s defense into difficult decisions. With Gobert drawn away from the paint, LeBron and Luka will target smaller wings and drive downhill, putting the defense in rotation. If Gobert stays on the perimeter player unable to help, Luka, Lebron, and Reaves can all finish at a high level over the smaller defender. If he helps, the ball will swing to open shooters.

Even if Minnesota removes Gobert, the Lakers will relentlessly hunt Mike Conley and smaller defenders like Donte DiVincenzo or Nickeil Alexander-Walker, using LeBron and Luka’s physicality to either finish through contact or draw doubles and kick out to shooters. It's this surgical blend of rim pressure, mismatch hunting, and perimeter spacing that makes the Lakers so dangerous—and gives them the edge in this series.

Turning Pressure into Mistakes

One of the biggest keys for the Lakers defensively in this series will be how they handle Anthony Edwards, and I expect J.J. Redick to challenge him with a wide array of looks to disrupt his rhythm. Edwards is at his best when he's able to play downhill, attacking the rim with power and confidence, so the Lakers’ focus will be on cutting off those direct lines to the basket. I anticipate Redick mixing in multiple coverages—showing early help at the low block to crowd his driving lanes, blitzing him off ball screens, and sending double teams once he puts the ball on the floor. The goal in all of this isn’t necessarily to stop Edwards outright, but to force him into constant decision-making. Rather than allowing him to isolate and rely on his natural scoring instincts, the Lakers will try to force him to read the floor, react to help defenders, and trust his teammates.

While you won’t completely eliminate his rim pressure, the key is to make his touches more complicated—clogging lanes, collapsing when he starts his drive, and funneling him into tough, contested midrange jumpers or low-percentage kick-outs. Forcing Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle into tough twos throughout the series could swing things in the Lakers’ favor quickly. In today’s NBA, it’s a math game—teams that rely heavily on contested midrange shots often struggle to keep up. It’s simply not a sustainable recipe for success over the course of a playoff series.

This type of swarming, help-heavy defense is something the Lakers have leaned into more since acquiring Luka Dončić, showing flashes of elite execution when fully locked in. But it’s a taxing style—requiring constant rotations, high motor, and complete buy-in from every player on the floor. If the Lakers can maintain that level of defensive intensity, they’ll give themselves a real chance to slow Edwards down. But sustaining that effort over the course of a full series, especially with the offensive workload their stars carry, will be a true test.

Prediction

The Lakers vs. Timberwolves series is shaping up to be one of the most compelling matchups of the first round, blending star power with contrasting styles. Minnesota comes in as a legitimate contender, boasting elite two-way metrics, depth, and a defensive identity centered around Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards. But the Lakers counter with a trio of elite playmakers in Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves—players capable of breaking down even the best defenses through mismatch hunting, rim pressure, and elite shot creation. J.J. Redick’s tactical versatility, especially on the defensive end, will be key in challenging Edwards to make the right reads consistently, while the Lakers’ five-out lineups aim to stretch the Wolves' defense and neutralize their size. If LA can force Minnesota into contested twos and maintain the swarming defensive intensity they’ve shown since the Luka trade, they’ll be in a strong position to control the series. My final prediction: Lakers in 6.