There was a different energy around the Lakers heading into Game 2 against the Timberwolves — a seriousness cloaked in calm, a readiness sharpened by embarrassment. And no one embodied that more than LeBron James.
Walking out of the locker room in all black — hoodie, sweatpants, the uniform of someone preparing for battle, not for show — James joked he dressed for exhaustion. But his mindset was no joke. After getting outmuscled and outplayed in a 22-point Game 1 blowout, James and the Lakers arrived with a purpose Tuesday night — and walked away with a 94-85 victory that evened the series 1-1.
From the tip, this was a different Lakers team.
No longer overwhelmed by Minnesota’s towering trio of Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, and Julius Randle, the Lakers hit first. They absorbed contact, imposed their will, and responded to every Timberwolves shove with one of their own. Game 1 had been a wake-up call — Game 2 was their answer.
“You could tell from the energy in the locker room after the game that nobody was worried about what we have,” Austin Reaves said, referencing the sting of Sunday’s loss. “We just had to go out there and compete every single possession.”
Reaves delivered with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists. James led the way with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists — and more importantly, timely plays. When Minnesota cut the lead to single digits in the fourth, James made a crucial steal and coast-to-coast layup to seal the win.
Coach JJ Redick had seen enough when the Lakers’ lead shrank to 11 midway through the third. He didn’t sugarcoat his message.
“What the f— is going on?” Redick barked in a fiery timeout huddle caught by TNT cameras. “What the f— are you guys doing? Come on!”
And his players responded.
“That’s JJ,” James said postgame. “It’s not about how he’s saying it, it’s about what he’s saying. I thought we responded after that.”
The adjustments were clear across the board:
-
Perimeter Defense: After giving up a franchise postseason record 21 threes in Game 1, the Lakers held Minnesota to just 5-for-25 from deep.
-
Transition Defense: They limited the Timberwolves to just six fast-break points after surrendering 25 in the opener.
-
Rebounding: LA flipped the script on the boards, outrebounding Minnesota 41-34.
And while James set the tone, others matched his intensity. Rui Hachimura took a shot to the face early but returned with a mask and played through the pain. Redick called him “a warrior.” D’Angelo Russell and the bench brought the hustle. Everyone, as James had hoped, dug deep.
Even Luka Doncic — Minnesota’s other star — couldn’t quite steal the spotlight, despite another stellar night with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
The series now heads to Minnesota tied at one apiece. The Lakers are still undersized. They’re still facing a formidable front line. But they’ve also rediscovered their edge — and they’ve got LeBron, dressed for battle, reminding everyone that there’s no quit in this team.
