To kick off their playoff campaign, the Minnesota Timberwolves came in hot and left the Lakers stunned with a dominant 117-95 win at Crypto.com Arena. Even with a brief scare late in the game, thanks to a buzzer-beating half-court bomb from Luka Doncic that sliced the lead down to single digits, it was all Minnesota in Game 1. The Lakers never truly recovered after that third-quarter dagger—and just like that, the home-court advantage slipped right through their fingers.
Still, it wasn’t the first time the Lakers’ crowd had witnessed a hostile takeover, and Anthony Edwards made sure they knew it. Surprisingly, the noise didn’t rattle him at all. “An atmosphere like this, it’s easy for me, man. I’ve played in Denver, man. Denver is a tough place to play on the road. So I mean, it was nothing,” Edwards said after the game.
Anthony Edwards’ confident and almost dismissive remarks about the Lakers’ home atmosphere are a tell-tale sign of his team’s mental fortitude and his own rising star power. His comparison to the Denver crowd suggests the Timberwolves were well-prepared for a hostile environment and were not intimidated by the playoff stage. Edwards’ composure under pressure further solidified the Timberwolves’ dominant performance. His seemingly unfazed reaction underscores his growing confidence and leadership on a team poised for a deep playoff run. This mental toughness, radiating from their young star, likely instilled further belief within the Timberwolves.
Meanwhile, frustration wasn’t just boiling over among the fans—Magic Johnson himself couldn’t hide his disappointment and made sure to call out both the team and new coach JJ Redick. But while the Lakers were dealing with the sting, one of Magic’s old teammates had his own little highlight moment. Michael Cooper, a five-time NBA champ, ran into none other than Paula Abdul during the game.
In fact, Cooper shared the star-studded moment on Instagram, posting, “Ran into my favorite #laker girl and singer @paulaabdul at the game.” The pop legend, whose net worth touches $20 million, added a touch of nostalgia to a tough night in L.A. And they weren’t the only famous faces in the building.
Celebs like Joe Burrow, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Byron Allen, and Alex Rodriguez also filled the courtside seats. But as usual, no one was as fired up or vocal about the Lakers’ downfall as Magic Johnson.
Magic Johnson doesn’t hold back as Lakers flop in Game 1
Magic Johnson had a lot to say after the Lakers’ brutal loss to the Timberwolves in Game 1. But this time, he didn’t sugarcoat a thing. “Tonight was one of the Lakers worst performances this season,” he wrote on X. “They were flat, had no energy, and they played like it was a regular season game.” It wasn’t just a playoff loss—it was a wake-up call, and Magic sounded the alarm loud and clear.
Moreover, he didn’t spare first-year head coach JJ Redick either. While acknowledging his season-long efforts, Magic called him out for dropping the ball in the opener. “Coach JJ Redick did a great job all season but he didn’t do a good job for Game 1,” he continued. “The Lakers stood around on offense, played too much one-on-one basketball, and he didn’t make any necessary adjustments.”
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves didn’t just show up—they took over. Anthony Edwards nearly messed around and got a triple-double, and Jaden McDaniels couldn’t miss, shooting 11-of-13 from the floor. New addition Julius Randle chipped in solid numbers too, and together, the Wolves lit it up at 51.2% overall and a blistering 50% from three.
In contrast, the Lakers fizzled out. They shot under 40%, got bullied in the second quarter, and just couldn’t keep up. Even Luka Doncic’s 37-point explosion wasn’t enough to lift the mood. Now, all eyes are on Tuesday. Because if the Lakers want to keep Magic from roasting them again, Game 2 better be a whole different story.
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