NBA Playoffs: Luka Doncic’s 31 points led Los Angeles Lakers to game 2 victory over Minnesota Timberwolves

The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back in commanding fashion Tuesday night, locking in defensively to secure a 94-85 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and even the series at 1-1. Fueled by Luka Doncic’s near triple-double and strong support from LeBron James and Austin Reaves, LA came out aggressive from the opening tip. The Lakers' defense was stronger against Minnesota’s offense while forcing tough shots throughout. Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt added value in the gameplay as the Lakers turned Game 2 into a statement performance.

The Los Angeles Lakers delivered a solid all-around performance in Game 2, with a stellar showing from Luka Doncic and a perfect shooting night from Austin Reaves. Doncic once again led the way with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists. He shot 45% from the field and was flawless from the free-throw line, converting all 11 attempts. Reaves, meanwhile, finished with 16 points, along with five rebounds and five assists.

LeBron James added 21 points on 8-of-19 shooting while also contributing 11 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and a steal in just under 40 minutes. Rui Hachimura chipped in with 11 points and five boards while shooting 44.4% from the floor. Dorian Finney-Smith gave a solid two-way effort, going 3-of-6 from the field and collecting five rebounds along with a steal and a block.
From the bench, Gabe Vincent provided a timely spark by knocking down two of his four three-point attempts, ending with six points in just over 19 minutes. His contributions came during a crucial first-quarter run that helped the Lakers build a 19-point lead.
Jaxson Hayes and Jordan Goodwin saw limited minutes, combining for just over 16 minutes on the court. Hayes had two points and a rebound, while Goodwin, despite not attempting a shot, contributed two rebounds. Several players—including Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, and Shake Milton—were listed as DNPs due to the coach’s decision. As a team, the Lakers shot 45.3% from the field, a perfect 20-of-20 from the free-throw line, and collected 45 rebounds while limiting turnovers to just 12.
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On the Timberwolves front, Julius Randle led the team with 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists. Anthony Edwards followed with 25 points and 6 rebounds.