The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2025 playoffs with championship aspirations, but their Game 1 performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves quickly dampened that optimism.
The purple and gold looked overmatched on their home court, suffering a humiliating 117-95 defeat that raised serious questions about their playoff readiness.
The blowout loss prompted an uncharacteristically pointed response from Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who typically offers more measured commentary about his former team.
This time, however, the Hall of Famer didn’t mince words when addressing what he saw as fundamental problems.
“Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season but he didn’t do a good job for Game 1. The Lakers stood around on offense, played too much one-on-one basketball, and he didn’t make any necessary adjustments,” Johnson wrote on X.
Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season but he didn’t do a good job for Game 1. The Lakers stood around on offense, played too much one-on-one basketball, and he didn’t make any necessary adjustments.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 20, 2025
Magic’s frustration mirrored what Lakers fans witnessed during the disappointing collapse.
Los Angeles actually started strong, building a promising 28-21 lead after the first quarter. But that advantage quickly evaporated as Minnesota seized control and never looked back.
The Timberwolves’ scorching shooting and balanced attack overwhelmed the Lakers, who were outscored by a staggering 96-67 margin over the final three quarters.
This outcome was particularly shocking considering the Lakers entered as the No. 3 seed with both LeBron James and Luka Dončić available and the benefit of playing at home.
The surprising defeat has dramatically shifted the series dynamics.
Game 2 has suddenly become a must-win situation for Los Angeles, as falling into an 0-2 hole before heading to Minnesota would put their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.
The pressure now falls squarely on rookie head coach Redick to make the necessary tactical adjustments while his stars must deliver the kind of performance expected from a championship contender.
