Why Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards was left confused by Lakers’ Game 2 defense

The Minnesota Timberwolves had a golden opportunity to grab a stranglehold of this first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, but they failed to capitalize. The Lakers made adjustments after their Game 1 loss and came out on fire before winning a defensive slugfest 94-85 to even the series at one apiece.

In Game 1, the Timberwolves got basically whatever they wanted on the offensive end on their way to 117 points. In Game 2, it wasn’t as easy for them after the Lakers made some changes to their defense. After the game, Wolves star Anthony Edwards shared his view of the Los Angeles defense, via Lakers reporter Harrison Faigen.

“Every time I had the ball, they switched to a zone defense,” Edwards said, according to Faigen. He described the defense as “a bit confusing,” but confidently added that he’d study the film and be prepared to face it in Game 3.

One of the Lakers’ weaknesses with their current roster is that they always have some players who can be targeted on defense. This is a natural consequence of the trade for Luka Doncic, and Edwards exploited it in Game 1. He aggressively drove to the basket and willingly passed the ball out to the perimeter whenever the Lakers over-committed on help defense.

In Game 1, the Timberwolves set a franchise playoff record by hitting 21 of their 42 three-point attempts. But in Game 2, the Lakers made key adjustments—limiting Edwards’ ability to drive to the basket and being more disciplined with their help defense. JJ Redick’s team also did a better job of reducing Minnesota’s three-point opportunities, holding them to just 5-of-25 from beyond the arc in their victory.

While shooting variance played a role, foul trouble for key role players like Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels—who were both outstanding in Game 1—also affected Minnesota. Now, it’s up to Edwards and the Timberwolves to adapt to the Lakers’ defensive strategy. All eyes will be on what Chris Finch and his coaching staff plan for Game 3 on Friday in Minnesota.