Lakers vs Minnesota has shaped out exactly like the gang expected. Neither team was a certain favourite heading in (Wild West supremacy). After the first two games, the tie is dead set at 1-1, with Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards looking like they’re in a Clash of the Titans episode. It’s surprising somehow the fan favourite LeBron James has failed to set his stamp. But the old age and lingering injury troubles have present itself with aplomb. So, will the King be able to switch on playoffs mode in the midst of it all?

According to him, “I’m available tonight.” That’s fantastic news. There’s no playoffs without the head of the table participating. It was a scare at the start as James had missed a good few weeks in the run-in due to a groin injury. But he all but put his foot down in the pregame press.

With Edwards bossing the Wolves offense, the Lakers have had their defenseive vulnerabilities exposed. You won’t win championships if one man is scoring nearly 50 points over both games- regardless of the fact that it’s Edwards. But to have that champion mentality is to look ahead, and not behind. And who better in the Lakers squad to own that mentality, than LeBron James? “First two games- it’s over and done with. They came and stole a whole court from us. That’s over with,” said the King, looking to shrug off the threat from the get-go.

It burns a lot deeper when Minnesota’s tactics to deal with Bron himself were made public to the world. Look at what ESPN’s Dave McMenamin had to say: “When Minnesota secured the No. 6 seed and locked in a first-round matchup with L.A., one of the specific aims of the Wolves’ game plan, sources told ESPN, was to limit James in transition, believing that if they force him to work in half-court sets, he could tire over the course of a long series.”

It does seem like a “right idea, wrong execution” type beats. Right idea? For sure. You’re going up against a player who’s 40 years old, who’s not in their prime anymore. But wrong execution? That player is an eternal LeBron James. He gets better as the series goes on.

But that’s just one half of the story. If you think about it, the Wolves defence conceding an even more ridiculous 68 points over two games to Luka Doncic isn’t facing as much heat. They have to have a stopgap, for the Lakers series at least. Luckily, the NBA gods have answered their prayers. But not how they’d have expected it.

Luka Doncic and LeBron James might deal with weird challenges during game 3 against Timberwolves

It’s unusual to see how the stars have aligned in midnight Wolves howl. They’d have thought to see an injury, or perhaps a defender rising from the ashes like a phoenix- anyway to get the Luka reprive. But the gods had something else planned for the game- they put Tony Brothers in charge of the game. Without any further ado, let’s get into his officiating history against Broncic.

Let’s talk about Doncic first, as it’s more recent. 8th April, 2025- Lakers vs West winnners OKC Thunder. With 4:02 remaining in the game, Doncic looked at a courtside fan and responded- with “vulgar”. The refs thought it was directed at him, and that caused the first technical- called by Brothers. Then 7:40 minutes into the 4th quarter, the Lakers are leading 108-107.  And Doncic does it again- to the same fan, Jeremy Price. Doncic is never one to back away from a fight. But the refs misunderstood, yet again. Then came the second technical, and subsequent ejection. Any surprises as to what happened next? The Lakers fell 136 – 120, going 12-29 in the last run.

With LeBron James, there’s two seperate incidents. The first ironically came against the Wolves, in December 2023. In a 108 – 106 loss at Minneapolis’s Target Center, Brothers was one of the three officials who ruled LeBron’s potential game-tying jumper a two-pointer after review, despite replays suggesting his feet were squarely behind the line. “Someone over there eating a ham sandwich made the call,” said the King, visibly frustrated.

And last but not least, Game 1 of the 2018 NBA finals. The unstoppable force met the immovable object- when James and Kevin Durant collided on the Rocket Mortgage paint. Brothers blew the whistle for a blocking foul on LeBron. However, after the officials consulted the replay monitor, the call was reversed to a charge. Let’s hope for their sakes, the third time’s the charm for LBJ and Tony Brothers.

But this storyline sets up the 3rd game beautifully. The everpresent LeBron James isn’t afraid of the might of Anthony Edwards, despite past troubles. But at the same time- he can’t control destiny, no matter how supreme he is. Tony Brothers officiating might ring a PTSD- which shouldn’t stop him, ideally. But in an ideal world- ah nevermind, that’s a story for another day.