The Lakers and Timberwolves are back at it — only this time, it’s not opening night, it’s playoffs, where the lights are hotter and the takes are louder. Now, if you’ve been keeping receipts, you’ll remember L. A and LeBron James actually took that first matchup way back in October, 110-103. But a lot has changed since then. Most notably? Luka Doncic and Dorian Finney-Smith now pull up in Purple & Gold — yeah, wild — and neither of them was even on the roster when that W went down. Different squads, different stakes, and definitely different energy now. This one ain’t about setting the tone for the season. It’s about who’s built for the moment.

But before we talk Giannis-level revenge arcs or who’s heating up at the right time, let’s not forget, Minnesota isn’t exactly the “Timberpups” anymore. They’ve got Anthony Edwards looking like a future Finals MVP in training, and Rudy Gobert doing his usual “four-time DPOY, but don’t ask him to guard the perimeter” thing. These two teams have danced around each other all season, but now it’s time for the Last Dance. And as always with the Lakers, there’s one big ol’ question mark hovering over Crypto.com Arena: Is LeBron playing?

Injury Report: LeBron James’s Status & Maxi Kleber’s Absence

Let’s start with the King. LeBron James is listed as probable for Game 1 with a left hip flexor strain. Translation? He’s playing. The man could have a dislocated shoulder and still be out there throwing no-look dimes and yelling, “I’m him.” And let’s be honest, this isn’t your washed-up 40-year-old uncle at the rec. LeBron’s last 10 games?

According to StatMuse, LeBron’s averaging 21.9 points, 6.9 assists, 5.8 rebounds while shooting a scorching 49.1% from the field. Hip strain or not, the man’s still putting up All-NBA numbers while running the offense, playing switch defense, and somehow pretending he’s not the oldest dude on the court. He’s basically the team’s floor general, part-time coach, and full-time insurance policy.

Now, Maxi Kleber is out with a foot injury. Is that a franchise-altering loss? No. But let’s not pretend like he doesn’t matter. Kleber gives you spacing, solid rotations, and the kind of quiet hustle that doesn’t show up in the box score but keeps coaches sane.

Game Plan, Key Players & What JJ Redick’s Cooking Up

If there’s anyone watching the Wolves closer than JJ Redick, they probably work for National Geographic. Clearly, the new Lakers head coach knows it’s not going to be an easy matchup. In his own words: “Very difficult opponent. They’ve played as well as anyone lately.” That’s not coachspeak — that’s just facts. Minnesota’s got a legit top-10 offense and defense, which makes this more of a chess match than your usual 7-seed stroll.

Redick’s ace card? Luka Doncic. The man’s been here before and then some — and JJ made it clear they’ll be leaning on Luka’s playoff history, especially against Minnesota. Expect a lot of Luka pick-and-roll action, plenty of spacing tweaks, and probably some audio clips of Redick saying “shot quality” about 60 times in film sessions.

Now let’s talk rotation. This is what the Lakers’ depth chart looks like going into Game 1.

As the Lakers prepare to face off against the Timberwolves, apart from LeBron, these are the guys who’ll likely step up and make the biggest impact. Whether it’s Luka doing his best “video game” impression or Jaxson Hayes quietly anchoring the defense, these players are primed to carry the load in the postseason. Here’s how each of them has been performing over the last 10 games:

• Luka Dončić – Luka’s basically a walking triple-double machine—29.9 Points, 7.1 Rebounds, 7.0 Assists—just casually running up the stats like it’s no big deal.

• Austin Reaves – Reaves is low-key the glue guy, quietly filling up the stat sheet—23.6 Points, 4.7 Rebounds, 4.7 Assists—while everyone’s distracted by the stars.

• Jaxson Hayes – Hayes has been protecting the rim and dunking on anyone who dares challenge him—6.9 Points, 5.0 Rebounds, 0.6 Blocks.

Redick’s got a few wildcards too. Gabe Vincent could be an X-factor defensively on Ant, and Rui’s 3-point stroke—40% over his last 10 and a perfect 4-for-4 the last time they faced the Pacers—has turned into a sneaky weapon when teams collapse on Luka and LeBron.

Minnesota’s no joke — Anthony is coming in hot, Gobert’s still a paint-clogging menace, and Mike Conley is the kind of vet who lives for exploiting lazy closeouts. But if the Lakers can stay healthy, shoot the three decently, and not forget how to rotate on defense (looking at you, second unit), this could go LA’s way in 6 or 7.

And don’t forget that Redick’s not just here for vibes and podcast material. The man’s a film room junkie, and if he cooks up the right game plan, we might just see some Luka-LeBron two-man magic that breaks basketball Twitter. Let the chaos begin!