There was plenty that went pear-shaped for the Los Angeles Lakers in their playoff opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In a 117–95 drubbing, the Lakers looked flat, outpaced and outgunned. The Wolves nailed a franchise postseason record 21 threes, ran L.A. off the floor with a 25–6 fast-break advantage, and completely shut down a Lakers offence that had been relatively solid throughout the regular season.
Even the stars struggled—Luka Doncic managed just one assist, well below his usual output, and LeBron James was held to 19 points. But come Game 2, the Lakers had a trick up their sleeve, and it came from a play straight out of a footy-style long kick from one end to the other.
The Play That Flipped the Script
A few minutes into Game 2, with the Lakers down early, Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels missed a corner three. Austin Reaves flew in with a desperate close-out, Rui Hachimura pulled in the rebound, and then magic happened.
Hachimura got the ball to Luka, who barely crossed the half-court line before spotting LeBron charging down the floor. With the confidence of a quarterback at the MCG on Grand Final Day, Luka launched a 50-foot missile over the defence and right into LeBron’s lap for an easy finish. It was simple, fast, and clinical.
"It's easy," Luka said after the game. "I know what he's going to do. He's going to beat his defender and I just throw it up there. It's not hard."
It was more than just two points—it was a statement. The Lakers went on to win 94–85 and level the series. Luka ended up with nine assists, L.A. turned the fast-break tables (winning that stat 13–6), and the momentum swung their way.
A Deadly Duo Taking Shape
This isn’t a one-off. Since Luka arrived in Los Angeles, he and LeBron have been building something special—especially in transition. In fact, they showed early signs of this chemistry in their very first game together back in February against the Utah Jazz.
LeBron sprinted the floor after contesting a three, and Luka, with one dribble, launched a 65-foot pass straight into his path for a layup. That kind of connection isn’t easy to find—it’s the stuff of elite-level instincts, much like a perfectly timed handball between AFL midfielders in the thick of the contest.
As Lakers coach JJ Redick put it, “We saw that sort of right away.” The natural fit, the trust, the timing—it all clicked from day one.
Long-Range Links Are Key
Luka and LeBron have since turned these long passes into a genuine weapon. GeniusIQ tracking shows Luka connected with LeBron for five assists on passes that travelled 60+ feet during the regular season—the most of any duo in the league in that stretch.
While LeBron’s physical dominance may have toned down slightly with age (let’s be real, Father Time catches up with everyone—even sporting gods), his IQ and timing are still elite. He knows when to pick his moments, and Luka gives him the perfect opportunities to strike.
And it’s not just about flashy plays. As Lakers guard Gabe Vincent said: “Great players got to get easy buckets too.” In a grind-it-out playoff series, those easy points can make all the difference.
Defensive Headaches for Minnesota
Heading into their first post-trade matchup against L.A., Timberwolves coach Chris Finch knew this new-look Lakers squad would pose fresh problems.
“If you're overhelping in the gaps, you're going to open massive runways for [LeBron] to get downhill,” Finch said. “That's not going to end well.”
He wasn’t wrong. LeBron dropped 33 points in that February game, and though the Wolves have made some adjustments in the playoffs, trying to limit LeBron in transition, they still got burned by that single Luka-to-LeBron pass in Game 2.
To be fair, the Wolves have done a decent job otherwise. LeBron’s only scored two points in transition across the first two games—compared to his regular-season average of six per game. Their defensive strategy is reminiscent of a zone coverage system you’d see in NRL or AFL, where defenders drop back early and try to block off space rather than just guarding their man.
Still, all it takes is one slip-up, one missed read, and boom—Luka fires a full-court bullet and the King is already at the rim.
Could the Lakers Flip the Script Again?
The most fascinating part? We haven’t yet seen the reverse. What happens if LeBron turns playmaker and Luka sprints the lane?
"Passing to each other, them two motherf---ers? It sounds crazy to even be saying that," Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith joked. “Two years ago, that s--- would have sounded fake. What am I saying—two months ago it would have sounded fake.”
It might sound wild, but that’s the threat the Lakers now pose. With Luka pulling the strings and LeBron lurking off-ball, defences can’t relax for a second. It’s like trying to defend both Buddy Franklin and Jeremy Cameron when the midfield's pumping the ball inside 50—it’s a nightmare.
Game 3 in Minneapolis: What’s Next?
As the series heads to Minnesota for Game 3, the Wolves’ sixth-ranked defence will need to tighten up even more. But if the Lakers keep evolving—maybe even trying LeBron as the passer and Luka as the target—it could open up a whole new dimension.
This duo’s chemistry is still growing, and for Aussie NBA fans watching from afar, it's thrilling to see this kind of synergy develop in real time. Whether you’re a diehard LeBron fan or new to the Luka hype, you can’t deny it: these two are rewriting how elite basketball looks in the open court.
And if the Lakers go on a deep run, it might just be these long bombs—the basketball version of a coast-to-coast goal—that push them all the way to another title.
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Mitchell
Mitchell is a seasoned Ph.D. scholar with extensive expertise gained through years of rigorous research, publication, and teaching experience. He brings a wealth of knowledge and analytical skills to tackle complex academic challenges. His work is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions, advancing knowledge, and promoting academic excellence. Proficient in research methodology, data analysis, and scholarly writing, Mitchell has contributed to peer-reviewed journals and mentored students to achieve academic success.
