Lakers need more from LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves in Game 2 vs. Wolves
After dropping Game 1, the Lakers need better performances from LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to win.
With multiple days off between the Lakers' disappointing Game 1 loss and Game 2, there has been a lot of chatter about what went wrong and how to fix it.
The overall consensus is that the Lakers didn’t match the Wolves’ physicality. Austin Reaves said the loss a wake up call and head coach JJ Redick called for the team to be more organized in Game 2.
While all of this can and is true, none of it will matter if LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves don’t play better.
Role players are supposed to uplift and support, while stars are designed to shine and carry. In Game 1, Austin Reaves had a horrendous performance. He scored just 16 points and was consistently attacked on defense.
Minnesota repeatedly scored on Reaves. According to the NBA’s advanced stats, Wolves players scored 23 points when Reaves was the primary defender, and Jaden McDaniels really took advantage, going 6-7 and scoring 12 of his 25 points on Austin.
It wasn’t just Reaves who struggled. LeBron was as quiet as a mouse in the first quarter.
He was pedestrian on defense and only took two shot attempts during the opening period. As the game progressed, LeBron improved, but it was too little, too late as Minnesota took control during the second quarter and never relinquished that advantage.
That was a bad game for LeBron based on his standards and importance to this team. Yes, he’s being asked to do more than any other 40-year-old in NBA history, but he’s set a high bar during the regular season that he now has to meet in the postseason.
If he can’t reach his standard level of performance during his minutes, then Los Angeles won’t be going far this postseason.
Luka was far from the biggest no-show of the big three, but he also could’ve been better. Yes, he scored 37, but he only had one assist. Many possessions consistently involved him pounding the rock and taking a tough jumper at the end of it.
When it worked, L.A. got points, or he went to the line. When it didn’t, it was fastbreak time for Minnesota.
There needs to be more ball movement and getting everyone involved in Game 2 if the Lakers are going to flip the result from the opening matchup of this series.
Luka Doncic: "I just tried to set the tone from early. But obviously, one assist, that's not good enough for me." #Lakeshow
— LoJo Media (@LoJoMedia) April 20, 2025
FanDuel has some fun Lakers player prop bets ahead of Game 2 if you think the Big 3 will bounce back. Luka earning a triple double is set at +700 and LeBron gives you even better odds at +1200.
Reaves scoring 25-plus points is set at +320 and considering how self-aware he was about his poor play in Game 1, he’ll be certain to come out more aggressive for Game 2.
While individual numbers are always hard to get right, what is known is that this Lakers trio has to be better.
Sure, Dorian Finney-Smith or Gabe Vincent can get hot and help with scoring, but they will not carry Los Angeles for a series. Only LeBron, Austin and Luka can do that.
They failed in Game 1. Game 2 is an opportunity to prove that it was a fluke and remind us all why the Lakers are a dangerous team to play against this postseason.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.