Rating Lakers Players vs. Timberwolves: A Different Game 2 For LeBron And Luka

Luka Doncic flirted with a triple-double and the Los Angeles Lakers responded in a big way, grinding out a 94-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night to even their first-round series at one game apiece.

After getting run off their home floor in Game 1, the Lakers came out with a purpose. Doncic set the tone early, scoring 16 of his 31 points in the first quarter to help the Lakers build a 22-point lead. 

He finished with 12 rebounds and nine assists, spearheading a much-improved effort on both ends of the floor. LeBron James added 21 points, 11 boards, and seven assists in a game that saw more elbows, reviews, and scrapes than flow — 46 fouls were called, with both James and Rui Hachimura taking hard shots to the face. Hachimura played the second half in a protective mask. 

The physicality threw the Timberwolves off rhythm. Anthony Edwards (25 points) and Julius Randle (27) tried to spark a comeback, but Minnesota’s offense never found the groove it had in Game 1, where it torched L.A. with a franchise-record 21 threes. On Tuesday, the Lakers clamped down on the perimeter, closed out with urgency, and forced the Wolves into late-clock looks all night.

Still, Minnesota made things interesting. A 19-point L.A. lead early in the fourth quarter shrank to single digits after the Lakers endured seven minutes without a field goal. But the Wolves couldn't fully capitalize — missed shots and empty trips derailed any hope of stealing a 2-0 series lead.

With the series tied, the scene now shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Both teams will look to assert control in what’s quickly become a bruising, high-stakes battle.

Luka Doncic: A+

Stats: 31 PTS, 12 REB (1 OREB, 11 DREB), 9 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO, 3 PF, 9-20 FG, 2-8 3PT, 11-11 FT, +12, 42 MIN

Doncic was the best player on the floor, scoring 31 points while nearly recording a triple-double with 12 rebounds and 9 assists. He was in total control offensively and hit all 11 of his free throws. His shot selection from deep (2-of-8) wasn’t ideal, and he had 4 turnovers, but his playmaking and poise led the Lakers throughout.

LeBron James: A-

Stats: 21 PTS, 11 REB (3 OREB, 8 DREB), 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 8-19 FG, 1-5 3PT, 4-4 FT, +9, 40 MIN

LeBron delivered a complete game, scoring 21 points and leading the team with 11 rebounds and 7 assists. He controlled tempo in the halfcourt and attacked the glass, especially early. Despite 4 turnovers and some defensive lapses, his presence kept the Lakers organized. This was a vintage “steadying force” LeBron performance.

Dorian Finney-Smith: B

Stats: 7 PTS, 5 REB (2 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 3-6 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 39 MIN

Finney-Smith was quietly impactful, contributing 7 points and 5 rebounds in 39 high-energy minutes. His defense and floor spacing were key to keeping things steady when the starters rested. He also added a block and was +5 in his time on the court. His contributions won’t show up in highlights, but they mattered.

Rui Hachimura: B

Stats: 11 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 4-9 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-3 FT, +2, 34 MIN

Hachimura played a steady if unspectacular game. He chipped in 11 points on efficient shooting and added 5 rebounds, playing within the flow of the offense. While he wasn’t aggressive, he didn’t force shots either and contributed with 2 steals and a block. His +2 plus-minus reflects a neutral impact, but he held his own defensively.

Austin Reaves: B

Stats: 16 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 7-14 FG, 0-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, +8, 43 MIN

Reaves had a solid two-way performance, scoring 16 points and dishing out 5 assists while handling the ball confidently. He struggled from beyond the arc (0-of-6), which dragged down his efficiency, but he made up for it with timely cuts and midrange finishes. Defensively, he stayed disciplined and didn’t commit many errors.

Gabe Vincent: C

Stats: 6 PTS, 0 REB (0 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-4 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 19 MIN

Vincent provided a nice offensive spark off the bench with 6 points on 2-of-4 shooting from three. He didn’t contribute much else statistically, but his shooting gave the Lakers a mini-boost during a second-half stretch. Defensively, he stayed within his assignment and avoided major mistakes.

Jaxson Hayes: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 5 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 9 MIN

Hayes had limited minutes and did very little to stand out. He scored 2 points and grabbed just one rebound in 9 minutes, although he was active enough to record a block. Defensively, he didn’t hurt the team but didn’t help either. His 5 fouls in such a short time were concerning and cut his floor time short.

Jordan Goodwin: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +5, 7 MIN

Goodwin played only 7 minutes and didn’t attempt a shot. He added one rebound but didn’t register any other major stats. He wasn’t on the floor long enough to influence the game in either direction but stayed mistake-free.

Jarred Vanderbilt: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 8 MIN

Vanderbilt was largely ineffective in his short stint. He missed his only shot attempt, had just 1 rebound, and turned it over once. He registered a steal, but his -6 plus-minus in just 8 minutes shows he struggled to positively impact either end.