What a thrilling and unpredictable end to the NBA regular season.
The Western Conference playoff seeding wasn’t decided until the final moments of the very last game. In that game, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors, securing the No. 6 seed for the Minnesota Timberwolves. As a result, the T-Wolves will now face the No.3-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
Among all the first-round matchups, Timberwolves-Lakers might just be the most intriguing.
Clashing Styles
One reason this series stands out is the clash of styles between the two teams.
The Timberwolves typically play big, with Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle all logging significant minutes in the frontcourt. The Lakers, on the other hand, prefer a smaller lineup, often featuring Rui Hachimura and LeBron James at the center position.
These teams haven’t faced each other at full strength since the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick. As a result, there isn’t much recent film to analyze heading into this playoff showdown.
X Factor: Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert is going to be the X-factor in this series.
He’ll either capitalize on the Lakers’ lack of size — racking up offensive rebounds, putbacks, dominating the glass, and anchoring the defense — or he’ll struggle to stay on the floor. If the Lakers can neutralize him by forcing switches that pull him out to the perimeter or spacing the floor with a shooting big, his impact on defense could be significantly diminished.
Gobert unfairly shouldered much of the blame for the Timberwolves’ loss to Luka Dončić and the Mavericks in last year’s Western Conference Finals. While a few key moments — like Luka’s step-back game-winner in Game 2 — became memorable lowlights, his overall performance in that series, and throughout the playoff run, was strong.
Lately, Gobert has been playing some of his best basketball on both ends of the court. Over a four-game stretch between late March and early April, he averaged 20.5 points and 18.5 rebounds per game. He closed the regular season with two standout performances: 35 points and 11 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets, followed by 19 points and 18 rebounds against the Utah Jazz.
His elevated level of play bodes well for the Timberwolves heading into this matchup with the Lakers. If they’re going to win the series, they’ll need Gobert to keep playing at this high level.
Should Conley Start?
Another key storyline to watch in this matchup is how much veteran point guard Mike Conley plays.
At this stage in his career, Conley’s defense has become a liability, and the Lakers have the personnel to exploit that weakness if Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch isn’t strategic with his rotations.
Who does Conley guard? The Lakers’ primary ball handlers — Luka Dončić and LeBron James — are simply too big, and their third option, Austin Reaves, is too quick. He could potentially match up with Gabe Vincent or Dorian Finney-Smith when they’re on the floor, but those two typically don’t log enough minutes to justify Conley’s usual workload.
Given this mismatch concern, Finch should consider starting Nickeil Alexander-Walker in Conley’s place. He’s a dependable defender and capable ball handler who isn’t hesitant to step into open catch-and-shoot threes. His presence could help neutralize the Lakers’ perimeter threats while still keeping the Timberwolves’ offense flowing.
Bench Guys
One of the Timberwolves’ key advantages in this series is their depth.
They boast a strong eight-man rotation, occasionally extending to a ninth with Jaylen Clark, a standout defender, when needed. Their bench unit — featuring Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and especially Donte DiVincenzo — will need to capitalize on their minutes, particularly when the Lakers are forced to go deeper into their bench.
If DiVincenzo and Reid are in rhythm offensively, and Alexander-Walker is making his presence felt on the defensive end, the Timberwolves become a tough team to beat.
Randle’s Playoff Past
Julius Randle is another player worth keeping a close eye on.
His past playoff performances have been underwhelming, to say the least. However, his role on this Timberwolves team is notably different. With a dynamic primary option like Anthony Edwards drawing much of the defensive attention, Randle may have more freedom to find his rhythm.
Lately, he’s done just that, playing a key role in the Timberwolves’ strong finish to the regular season. If he can hold his own defensively — especially by making life tougher for Dončić and James — and choose his offensive spots wisely, Randle has a real chance to be a meaningful contributor in this series, casting away his notorious playoff woes.
Ant-Man
No preview of this Lakers-Timberwolves matchup would be complete without highlighting Minnesota’s best player: Anthony Edwards.
He’s been outstanding this season and continues to cement his place among the league’s upper echelon. Now entering his fourth postseason, Edwards has grown increasingly comfortable under the playoff spotlight.
In fact, his playoff numbers consistently outpace his regular-season stats— he averages more points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, while also shooting more efficiently from the field and beyond the arc. That upward trend will likely continue as he steps into this series with more experience and confidence.
The Lakers will undoubtedly look to double him to get the ball out of his hands, but Edwards has made strides in handling those situations. He’s become more patient, more trusting of his teammates, and more adept at relocating to reinsert himself into the play.
As long as he avoids falling into hero-ball tendencies — especially in crunch time — Edwards is poised to have a big impact in this first-round series.
Series Begins Saturday Night
The Timberwolves-Lakers series begins Saturday, April 19th, at 7:30 p.m. CT in Los Angeles, and figures to be one of the best first-round matchups.
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