Luka Doncic stole the show as the Los Angeles Lakers levelled the Western Conference First Round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves shocked the Lakers by winning the first game at the Crypto.com Arena last weekend.
JJ Redick’s team needed to bounce back immediately, and thanks to Luka Doncic, they have now regained confidence after a fairly comfortable victory.
The Slovenian was at his best in Game 2, scoring 31 points and taking particular advantage of Rudy Gobert.
Doncic is almost impossible to guard for the best wing defenders in the NBA, let alone seven-foot centers like Gobert.
While he’s not quick, his footwork and craftiness make him so difficult to keep up with. Gobert realized this more than ever in Game 2.
The Lakers purposefully switched the former Defensive Player of the Year onto Doncic, and it’s fair to say he had his way with him.
Reporter Taylor Rooks asked the 26-year-old after the game: “This crowd would get pretty hyped whenever you were matched up with Rudy Gobert. How did you attack that matchup?”
Doncic replied: “Yeah, from the start, I always say I like to attack centers.
“I got it going a little bit in the first quarter and set the tone for everybody else, and we just go from there.”
One would expect Doncic to continue to “attack” Gobert in the remainder of the series, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch eventually has to take him out.
The biggest criticism of Doncic is his lackluster defense. The Lakers guard is consistently targeted by opposition players.
Well, in Game 2 against the Timberwolves, he was by no means Gary Payton, but he did step up and play some quality defense towards the end.
Doncic reflected on his efforts on that side of the ball: “Yeah. I think I did great. The whole team helps. It’s not just about individuals. It’s about all five on the floor. That’s what we’ve got to do.”
The Lakers are never going to be an excellent defensive team with Doncic and Austin Reaves as their backcourt, but they can’t afford to be terrible if they have title aspirations.
Holding the Timberwolves to 85 is a great sign, which Redick will be desperate to see continue throughout the postseason.
