When the Minnesota Timberwolves drew the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, national media outlets didn’t hesitate. The headlines weren’t about Minnesota’s elite defense, or Anthony Edwards’ superstardom, or the arrival of Julius Randle. They were about Luka Dončić. They were about LeBron James. They were about how, somehow, some way, the Wolves would fold.
But what happened instead? The Wolves cracked the code. After giving the Lakers the gentleman's sweep, it’s time the world understands how Minnesota shut down two of the most dangerous players in basketball and why this team is a true contender.
1. The defensive impact: Defense took the Luka and LeBron challenge personally
From the opening tip of Game 1, Jaden McDaniels had been glued to Dončić like a shadow. Full-court pressure. Physical screens. Smart contests without fouling. Dončić is still a magician, no doubt. But McDaniels’ length and discipline made him work for every single bucket, every assist, every inch.
Over the series, Dončić struggled to get into rhythm, forced into tough step-backs and awkward passes by the relentless perimeter pressure. And when McDaniels sat? Nickeil Alexander-Walker had picked up the baton seamlessly. No let-up. No free possessions.
Then, of course, they had James to deal with. James has faced every defense in the book, but what Minnesota had done was different. It wasn't about stopping him one-on-one. It was about suffocating the options around him.
The Wolves were rotating perfectly, collapsing without overcommitting, and daring the Lakers’ role players to beat them. Spoiler alert: they didn't. The Wolves werent ball-watching. They where hunting. Cutting off lanes. Contesting threes. And they made James look mortal.
They have had some 7-footers on deck, but the Wolves had Rudy Gobert. What happened at the rim was why the defensive scheme worked. Gobert wasn't just blocking shots; he was erasing confidence. Luka’s signature floaters? Altered. LeBron’s drives? Hesitated. LA’s bigs? Neutralized.
Gobert was anchoring the most disciplined defense in the playoffs, calling out coverages, communicating switches, and flat-out commanding the interior. This is the version of Gobert that the Wolves believed in, and now he’s proving why he was worth every piece. The Wolves' defense was indeed dominant, to say the least.
2. Offense that broke LA’s rhythm
It wasn't just about defense. The Wolves were using their offense to keep the Lakers off balance. By spreading the floor with Edwards, Randle, Mike Conley, and McDaniels, Minnesota was punishing LA’s defensive lapses. Edwards was collapsing the defense and making smart, timely passes. Randle was bullying mismatches. And Gobert’s vertical threat was dragging rim protectors out of position.
The result? Fewer transition chances for the Lakers. More control. More chaos for LA. Not to mention that they wisely took advantage of every switch that ended with Dončić either fouling or points on the board due to his nonexistent defensive prowess.
The most dangerous part about this Timberwolves team this season is that they can beat you from all angles. If the paint is open, they are very comfortable operating in that area. If they are left open on the perimeter, you can bet that they will make you pay for late switches. Depending on your second unit for a lift? The Wolves are probably more comfortable than anyone in the league deploying theirs as well.
This team is not only explosive on the offensive end but has also grown more smart, more efficient when choosing which weapons to attack with on that end. Edwards is not the only thing that you have to worry about. If you're caught ball watching him, his teammates are ready to remind you to pay attention.
3. The Wolves were just hungrier
The Timberwolves didn’t come into this series asking for respect; they came to take it. While the Lakers coasted in and leaned on their names, the Wolves came in prepared, locked in, and with something to prove. Chris Finch had a set game plan for anything the Lakers were wanting to throw at them.
Every loose ball. Every hustle play. Every rebound. Minnesota beat the Lakers not just tactically but mentally. This isn’t luck. This Is mastery. Minnesota didn't just survive the series, they owned it. They broke down one of the most talented duos in the league and exposed the cracks in the Lakers’ foundation. This isn’t a fluke. This is a calculated, disciplined, and hungry basketball team executing at the highest level.
For now, the Timberwolves get to regroup and enjoy a couple of days off before their next series. Whether that will be against the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets is to be determined. You can bet that they will be prepared either way after what was on display from this series.
A lot of Lakers fans were chanting "Lakers in 5" before this series started. In the end, Timberwolves fans ended up holding a mirror for them. So next time you hear someone ask, “What’s wrong with the Lakers?” Tell them the truth: The Timberwolves cracked the code. And they’re not done yet.