Lakers to Face Timberwolves in Playoff Matchup

The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs is set to feature a high-profile matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers, securing the No. 3 seed, will host the Timberwolves, who landed the sixth seed after a pivotal victory over the Utah Jazz. The series is scheduled to start on April 19th or 20th, with the Lakers having home-court advantage. Throughout the regular season, the two teams split their four encounters, with the Lakers winning the most recent game after acquiring star player Luka Dončić. The Timberwolves avoided the play-in tournament by finishing sixth, while the Lakers rested key players like LeBron James and Luka Dončić in their final regular-season game against Portland. This matchup brings expectations of a competitive series, given both teams' strong finishes to the season.