The Western Conference’s third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers (50-32) will face the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33) in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. The two franchises have not met in the playoffs since a 2004 conference finals featuring Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.
What we know about the Lakers
Oh, boy. Wait until you hear this one.
The Lakers, boasting a 40-year-old LeBron James and the oft-injured Anthony Davis, were floundering. Their record said they were decent, though their net rating made other claims. Since winning a title in 2020, they had topped out in the 2023 Western Conference finals.