NBA playoffs begin, Lakers get bit by Timberwolves

The NBA playoffs tipped off with fireworks on Sunday, as four Game 1 matchups served up surprises, statement wins, and high-stakes basketball across both conferences. Headlining Day 1 was Minnesota's commanding win over the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers.

In Luka Dončić’s playoff debut as a Laker, the third-seeded Los Angeles squad was soundly outplayed by the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, 117-95. Dončić erupted for 37 points, including 16 in a scorching first quarter, but it wasn’t enough to counter Minnesota’s precision and poise. The Wolves hit a franchise playoff-record 21 three-pointers — many wide open — led by Jaden McDaniels’ 25 points and Naz Reid’s 23 off the bench. Anthony Edwards flirted with a triple-double, logging 22 points, nine assists, and eight boards.

LeBron James added 19 for LA, but the Lakers’ chemistry looked raw against a well-oiled Minnesota unit that pulled away with a 38-20 second quarter and never looked back. Game 2 is set for Wednesday, and the pressure is now firmly on LA.

Over in New York, it was a tale of two halves for the Knicks, who clawed back from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Detroit Pistons, 123-112. Jalen Brunson overcame a slow first half and a potential ankle tweak to score 34 points, while Cam Payne chipped in 11 of his 14 in the final frame. Their 21-0 run flipped the game on its head and extended Detroit’s postseason drought — now at 15 straight losses — despite strong performances from Tobias Harris (25 points) and Cade Cunningham (21 points, 12 assists).

The atmosphere turned electric as Josh Hart and Payne capped the rally, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and giving the third-seeded Knicks a critical opening win. Game 2 stays in New York on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Denver, Russell Westbrook turned back the clock to haunt his former team, the Clippers, in a gritty 112-110 overtime win for the defending champion Nuggets. Westbrook hit a huge corner three late in regulation and forced a pivotal turnover in OT, helping Denver erase a 15-point deficit. Nikola Jokić led the way with 29 points and nearly notched a triple-double, while Aaron Gordon (25 points) and Jamal Murray (21) chipped in crucial buckets.

The Clippers, led by James Harden’s 32 and Kawhi Leonard’s 22, couldn’t overcome 20 turnovers — including seven from Leonard. Their loss snapped an eight-game win streak and gave the Nuggets early control of the series.

In Indiana, the Pacers handled business with a 117-98 dismantling of the shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks. Pascal Siakam’s 25 points and Tyrese Haliburton’s 12 assists led a balanced attack, with six Pacers scoring in double figures. Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 36 and 12 boards, but the Bucks sorely missed Damian Lillard, still recovering from a calf issue. The Pacers’ defense limited Milwaukee’s supporting cast and held them to 9-of-37 from deep.

Day 1 of the NBA Playoffs delivered a resounding message: no lead is safe, and no seed is sacred.