Didn't see the game. Did this feel like one of those situations where the team down 0-1 knew it was a must win and ramped up the effort while the other team seemed content getting one out of two on the road?
Lakers did not seem ready for Gm 1. Did not give a good account of themselves. Gm 2 they sorted themselves out and showed their actual level.
Minny played hard in Gm 2. They just didn't have enough players show up offensively. Randle and Ant did their thing but they got no help. McDaniels had a huge Gm 1. He was a no-show. Naz was a no-show. DiVincenzo was a no-show. Conley was a no-show. All those guys were important to their Gm 1 win. None showed up. They were trying hard. The ball just wasn't going in for them.
Conley has been bad most of the season. I thought they got lucky with his Gm 1 performance. They also got lucky with McDaniels. He has the odd game like that now and then. Afterwards he goes back to his usual levels. So this was expected. Naz and DiVincenzo were the bigger missing factors in Gm 2. Minnesota needs them. They are their 3rd and 4th best scorers. They should be back to their proper levels in the games ahead and Minny will be more competitive again.
Each team played 1 game where they did not give a good account of themselves. Lakers one was related to effort. I didn't think the Wolves one was. More just an off-night shooting wise / offensively for them.