Naz Reid emerged as an unlikely hero in the Minnesota Timber Wolves’ dominant 117-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Playoff Series.
Getting off the bench, the lead performed with a great 23 points. This included six 3-pointers on nine attempts, with 30 minutes of action.
After the game, Naz Reid revealed the surprising source of motivation behind his breakout playoff performance.
It was an elbow from Lakers forward Jaal Red Vanderbilt.
“He hit me on my eyes. I was injured for a moment, came back and hit a three. It’s not easy to get me out of the game,” Reid explained at his post-game press conference.
He describes the first fourth quarter incident that left him temporarily on the floor covering his face in pain. But rather than diminished by physical play, Reid responded in an epic way.
Not only did he return to action quickly, he quickly connected with a momentum-changing three-pointer, continuing his important contributions through the key final minutes of the contest.
Reed acknowledged the importance of stealing Game 1 against the much-loved Lakers who joined the series as the third seed facing Minnesota’s sixth seed team.
Reserve Big Man pointed out the Timberwolves’ hunger as a different maker of series openers.
“We know we wanted more tonight, and it’s like what it has to be, especially when you’re a loser,” Reed admitted.
What made Minnesota’s victory particularly impressive was how it handled the pressures of the playoff stage while implementing a physically impressive game plan.
Reed specifically noted that the Timberwolves’ decision to go beyond that with the Lakers’ physicality proved to be devastatingly effective.
The strategy clearly worked as Minnesota not only includes Lakers stars, but also established dominance on both ends of the floor, and Los Angeles is looking for an answer heading into Game 2.
“We’re going out there and we’re going to prove that we can play this brand of basketball on this high stage and we can play a big basketball for all of us,” Reid concluded.