If you tuned into the Lakers vs. Timberwolves game hoping for basketball, you got something way better: JJ Redick absolutely losing his entire mind on national television while his team won a game that felt more like a UFC undercard. The chaos started early, got violent fast, and ended with Redick screaming into the void as Luka Doncic quietly dropped 31 points like it was a Tuesday at the park.

Seriously, this wasn’t just a basketball game. This was Uncut Gems on the sidelines, with JJ Redick as Adam Sandler—spiraling, cursing out everyone, and pacing like his life depended on it!

It all reached its peak in the third quarter. Things were falling apart: turnovers, missed rotations, Rui Hachimura had already left the game after taking a Naz Reid elbow straight to the face, and JJ had had it!

He called a timeout with the urgency of a man discovering his house is on fire—then launched into a tirade so explicit it should’ve come with a rating warning: JJ Redick (courtesy of TNT OT): “Time out. What the f*** is going on. Time out. Jesus f***ing Christ, the f*** are you guys doing. Come on!“

You could practically hear generations of ESPN producers gasping. TNT’s camera didn’t even cut away. Why would they? It was gold. Basketball? Fine. JJ Redick becoming the meme of the night? Elite content.

Let’s set the stage—JJ Redick isn’t just some guy yelling on the sideline. There’s a lot more to his outburst than meets the eye. Redick’s transition from NBA sharpshooter to ESPN analyst to head coach has been a rollercoaster. It’s one thing to have a mic in front of you on TV, but it’s another thing entirely when you’re coaching guys like LeBron, trying to keep them focused, and they’re not always on the same page. JJ knows the game from each point of view. Be it from his experience as being Mavs’ Shooting guard or the podcasts with LeBron, he knows it all!

In a post-game interview after the Lakers’ 119-101 win over the Spurs, Redick made it clear: this team’s defense was what won them the game. “We were very physical. You know the playoffs require a different level of play,” he said, adding, “it took us about two and a half quarters to get to that physical level.” So, yeah, the offense had its moments, but the defense? That was the real MVP. Redick has that “no BS” vibe, and his frustration on the sideline wasn’t just about missed shots—it was about execution. He’s still figuring out how to find that balance between being a coach and keeping his cool, but hey, his intensity shows that he wants nothing less than perfection. If you’re not sweating through a timeout in a playoff game, are you even coaching?

In the background, you could even hear Anthony Edwards chime in with a sarcastic, “Yeah JJ, yeah,” like he was part of the hype crew. Because, of course, Ant would be egging it on. That’s what Anthony does.

Anthony Edwards is pretty much the exact opposite of Redick’s coaching style. If JJ’s intensity is about getting results, Edwards’ energy is all about chaos. The guy’s a master of trolling and creating tension on the court. He’s the kind of guy who’ll talk smack with a fan mid-game and not think twice about it. Take Game 1 against the Lakers, for example. With just over four minutes left in the third quarter, Edwards got into it with a Lakers fan—seriously, it was like a heated Twitter argument come to life. The fan probably wasn’t ready for Edwards to turn around and hit him with, “My d— bigger than yours.” Yeah, you read that right. Edwards probably wasn’t looking for any life lessons from the fans, but this verbal exchange did cost him $50K. Some might call it harmless fun, others… well, maybe not so much. Either way, you know Edwards’ playful antics aren’t exactly helping smooth things over with the Lakers.

As JJ stormed up and down the sideline looking like a man who aged ten years in ten minutes, Claire De Lune expressed her concerns for him, saying: “someone needs to do a wellness check on jj redick at halftime, he looks like he is gonna have a coronary“

JJ went from “calm podcast guy with stats” to “the human embodiment of a car alarm” in four quarters. This Lakers job might be the greatest thing to ever happen to him—or the reason he starts drinking celery juice while pacing in the dark. And it’s not like the team helped.

Playoffs Game 2 or a soap opera? The Lakers drama you can’t miss!

Earlier in the night, while both teams were warming up, Anthony Edwards randomly wandered over to the Lakers‘ side and said something to Luka Doncic that made the Slovenian star laugh. Classic Ant—just stirring the pot for sport. There was no beef, no trash talk, just mischief. Luka probably thought, “This dude’s hilarious,” and then proceeded to go out and become the third Laker ever to score 30+ in each of his first two playoff games.

Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura took a scary elbow to the face in the first quarter while battling inside with Naz Reid. The slow-motion replay was nasty—Reid’s elbow caught him flush, and Rui dropped, clutching his head. JJ’s face tightened like someone told him Stephen A. Smith was subbing in.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more unhinged, Julius Randle accidentally spiked LeBron James in the face with five minutes left in the game. He came down from a rebound and just full-on smacked Bron across the jaw. LeBron blinked, confused, like, “Did that just happen?” and JJ looked like he was ready to file a noise complaint against reality.

The Lakers won 94-85, with Luka leading the way and LeBron adding 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Timberwolves couldn’t shoot (38% from the field), and Mike Conley somehow scored zero. But none of that was the real headline.

The Lakers’ 94–85 win over the Timberwolves on April 22 was massive. Not only did it tie the series at 1–1, but it also showed the Lakers’ resilience and adjustments. After a disappointing Game 1, they tightened up their defense and held Minnesota to just 85 points—way better than the 117 they allowed last time. Redick’s focus on matching Minnesota’s physicality really clicked, and it showed in their play. LeBron and Luka were huge, but this win came down to the whole team stepping up with some serious defensive grit.

This victory shifted the momentum, especially with Games 3 and 4 at the Wolves’ home. If the Lakers continue with this intensity and balance, they’re in a great spot to take control of the series. The adjustments they made and their depth, led by LeBron, Luka, and Reaves, make them a scary team to face going forward.

The story of the night was JJ Redick melting down like a coach in a Will Ferrell sports movie, while Anthony Edwards giggled and Rui iced his face. This wasn’t just a win. This was a spiritual test for JJ Redick. If he makes it through this postseason without punching a Gatorade cooler or writing a burner account manifesto, he deserves Coach of the Year and a three-week silent retreat.