Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers with a game-high 31 points in their 94-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, tying the Western Conference first-round playoff series at 1-1.
Doncic scored 16 of those points in the first quarter, which helped the Lakers establish a strong lead, and he also recorded 12 rebounds and nine assists.
LeBron James contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, while Austin Reaves added 16 points.
“It was really a matter of whether we would be more physical, and I believe we demonstrated that,” Doncic said after the Lakers jumped to a 34-15 lead by the end of the first quarter.
“We were on the court for 48 minutes. We established a strong lead in the first quarter, applied what we learned from our previous game, and remained focused.”
Minnesota didn’t perform as sharply as in their first match, with Julius Randle contributing 27 points and Anthony Edwards adding 25.
“Every time I received the ball, they seemed to shift into a zone defense,” Edwards commented. “It was a bit perplexing at times, but we’ll review the film and be prepared for game three.”
Meanwhile, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points, the highest in the game, but his team lost 123-115 to the Indiana Pacers, falling to a 2-0 deficit in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Damian Lillard returned to the Bucks after a five-week hiatus and hit a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, helping his team cut a 15-point deficit down to just two points, making it 115-113 against the Pacers.
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In response, Andrew Nembhard, who scored 17 points, knocked down a three-pointer for the Pacers, allowing them to maintain their lead in a game that featured a first-quarter altercation and several technical fouls.
“It’s enjoyable,” said Tyrese Haliburton. “This is what everyone strives for. We’re all competitors, and right now, competing is a lot of fun.”
Haliburton finished the game with 21 points and 12 assists, while his Pacers teammate Pascal Siakam contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder from the Western Conference took a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies with a solid 118-99 victory at home.
Shai GilGeous-Alexander has 27 points for Thunder, while teammates Jalen Williams and Chet HollMGren added 24 and 20 points, respectively.
