Before the first match of the Lakers qualifying series, head coach JJ Redick hugged as he spoke, a very serious person acting even more seriously than usual.
The time in front of him and their team was large, a serial opener inside their building for the first time since 2012, the optimism that extended beyond only one victory up to 16 years, believing that their first qualifying series with Luka Doncic could be something special.
And that is what it looked early on on Saturday, the crowd swallowing when Dononic showed the way he could transport a team to the playoffs, fine backs and discrepancies and traffic finishes.
But as far as a Brilliant Doncouic Start can be the first paragraphs in the history of a Lakers’ victory, it can also be a bit of a mask. Because if Dononic has obtained whatever he wanted, Austin Reaves fought against Minnesota pressure, missing easy shots and the edge and the evil to put the Lakers in attack. LeBron James, whom we saw for the last time on the ground, grimacing after a tension tension of the hip, had not exploded much in the basket or a lot of contact on his shot.
And with Doncouic on the bench after a first quarter of 16 points, this mask came off. Lakers could not score. They could not match the energy of Minnesota. They could not exceed the movements of the ball or chase the rebounds. And they could not stop an avalanche that struck them with the type of force that removed all the energy from the building.
The match, which the Minnesota won 117-95, did not finish during this section, at least not in an official direction. But that sparked everything that followed while the Timberwolves scored 64 of the next 90 points in the match.
It took 19 minutes of court time for the big moment to take place, so that it falls out of reach, so that the season feels in danger for the first time since well before Donic is part of it.
The concerns for Lakers in the future can be found everywhere on the final score of the box, the edge of 19 points of fast rupture showing how much Minnesota has played faster. The 21 second chance points that the Lakers authorized showed the determination of the Timberwolves. The 48 points combined for Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid showed how capable the co-stars of Julius Randle are.
The Lakers held Edwards at just 22 points on 22 shots. And lost. The Lakers kept Randle at 16 and Rudy Gobert only two. And lost.
The Lakers obtained 37 Doncic points. And lost.
