The 2024-25 NBA regular season has kicked off, featuring an intriguing matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. This was not just another game; it was a historic moment for the James family.
In a surprising twist, most of the pre-game buzz centered around Bronny James, the rookie point guard and eldest son of Lakers legend LeBron James, as he shared the court with his father for the first time in a regular-season game—an NBA first for a father-son duo.
Bronny’s actual participation was brief; he played 2:41 at the end of the first half, grabbing one rebound without scoring. His minutes were limited under head coach JJ Redick’s rotation.
Meanwhile, the game itself showcased a clash between renowned centers Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis. While Gobert was expected to contain Davis, the opposite happened. Davis dominated the floor with a remarkable 36 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Lakers to a 110-103 victory despite Gobert’s four fouls.
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Initially, Minnesota got the upper hand, taking the first quarter 23-22. However, a significant 23-6 run in the second lifted the Lakers, and they went into halftime up 55-42.
Despite the Lakers’ lead, the Timberwolves rallied after the break, closing the gap significantly by the end of the third quarter, trailing just 82-74. With both teams adjusting their lineups, Minnesota made a strong push, getting to within four points early in the fourth.
Throughout the nail-biting finish, the Lakers maintained their edge thanks to LeBron and Davis, clinching the win despite being outscored in the second half.
In his debut as an NBA head coach, Redick employed a nine-man rotation, leaning heavily on returning players while giving minutes to newcomers. Hachimura shone with 18 points, showing promise for the Lakers this season.
LeBron contributed 16 points, while other key players included Reaves and Hayes. The Timberwolves were led by Anthony Edwards with 27 points and Julius Randle, who debuted with 16 points and solid defense.
Interestingly, the Lakers dominated in the paint, outscoring the Timberwolves 72-40. However, their poor three-point shooting (5-of-30) is a concern moving forward if they want to stay competitive without Davis’s standout performance every night.