Game 1 hit hard, and the Lakers knew it. Losing by 22 at home? That wasn’t just a bad night—it was a wake-up call. Austin Reaves didn’t sugarcoat it after the final buzzer either. “Hopefully we can just right our wrongs,” AR said. You could feel the weight in that line, right? Fast forward to Game 2, and LA came out with a different kind of fire.

They weren’t just playing basketball—they were throwing punches in a playoff slugfest (not literally, but it was close). Built up a 22-point lead? Yeah, that was no accident. That was urgency turned up to 11.

JJ Redick had challenged them before tipoff. He didn’t want finesse—he wanted grit. So after Minnesota chopped a 22-point lead down to just 11 with 7:40 left in the period, JJ Redick didn’t wait around. The rookie head coach immediately called a timeout and let his players have it. He apparently said, “Jesus f—ing Christ what the f— are you guys doing?” Redick, visibly fired up, lit into the team with a string of unfiltered frustration.

Post-game, when reporters pressed Austin Reaves about what exactly went down in that huddle, his response was blunt, with a touch of humor. “Play better,” Reaves said with a smirk. “I don’t know if y’all have talked to him yet. If he wants to share what he said, that’s on him. Let’s just say he wasn’t happy—and we responded well.” 

Redick had made it clear before Game 2 even tipped off—he saw something different in his team. A sharper edge. A real shift in energy.

That hunch turned into reality on the court, and Reaves gave insight into how that change was felt behind the scenes.

“Oh, I think it just goes back to the other night,” Reaves said. “We basically got pumped, like, as you call a spade a spade. And they come here game one and, you know, pump us, and you can tell from the energy in the locker room after the game that it nobody was, was worried about what we had. We just had to go out there and, you know, like I said, complete every single possession.”

He didn’t stop there. Reaves also pointed to the team’s bounce-back effort in practice. “And, you know, like you said, we had a really good practice yesterday, and that kind of just ensured kind of where the headspace was—knowing what we were going to have to do to come out here and get a win,” added the 26-year-old.

From Reaves’ tone to Redick’s pregame confidence, the message was clear: the Lakers didn’t flinch—they regrouped. L.A. came out with a purpose in Game 2, looking nothing like the squad that got steamrolled in the opener.

Austin Reaves has still not found his form

Game 2 wasn’t pretty, but that’s exactly what made it beautiful for Lakers fans. No shootout, no flashy highlight reel, just a street fight the Purple and Gold were built for. L.A. snatched a gritty 94-85 win, setting the tone from the jump with a level of physicality that screamed, “We heard everything you said after Game 1.”

Luka Doncic lit the fuse early. He racked up 16 points in the first quarter, including a pair of threes, as the Lakers raced out to a 22-point lead. That Luka trade? Already looking like a steal. And while the Timberwolves tried to claw back, L.A. slammed the door with defense, holding Minnesota to 5-of-25 from deep and just 5-of-18 shooting in the first quarter alone.

LeBron James looked ageless, like he had something to prove. With Hayes in foul trouble, LeBron took over the paint, finishing with 21 points, 11 boards, and a game-shifting steal on Anthony Edwards that felt like a “still got it” statement.

But this wasn’t just about the big names. Rui Hachimura battled through a face smack and two different masks to put up 11-5-5 and a couple of blocks. Austin Reaves couldn’t buy a three but kept attacking, going 7-for-8 inside and hitting clutch shots late. No doubt he’s still got plenty to clean up, but this one? Way smoother than the last game.

Now the series heads to Minnesota. Loud crowd, tough vibes. But if the Lakers carry this edge on the road? They might just take back control for good.