NBA legend Charles Barkley warns LeBron James and Luka Doncic after the Los Angeles Lakers suffer a crushing Game 1 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves. What does this mean for their playoff hopes?

LeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the third quarter of a game against the Utah Jazz.
© Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesLeBron James #23 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the third quarter of a game against the Utah Jazz.

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a discouraging start to the NBA Playoffs with a lopsided 117-95 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Despite a decent performance from LeBron James, the game featured an unusual and incorrect mention of Luka Doncic in the context of the Lakers, a mistake that sparked confusion, as Doncic is a star player for the Dallas Mavericks.

While James contributed 19 points, the Lakers were simply outgunned by a sharp-shooting Timberwolves team that connected on 51.2% of their field goal attempts and 50% from beyond the arc.

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The result marked the worst opening-game loss of James’ storied playoff career and triggered serious concern over the Lakers’ postseason trajectory.

Following the loss, Charles Barkley issued a strong critique during Monday night’s broadcast of NBA on TNT, emphasizing the magnitude of the moment for the Lakers ahead of Game 2.

“Clearly, I think it is a must-win for the Lakers,” Barkley stated. “I’m not even talking just about that, I’m talking about like, if you get Luka Dončić and LeBron James losing in the first round of the playoffs, that’s a bad season.

I mean, that’s a bad season. And everybody gave them a win in the trade, but if they lose in the first round, that’s going to be a really bad look for them.”

LeBron calls for accountability after historic loss

Following the defeat, LeBron James addressed the media and pointed to specific areas of the game where the Lakers must improve immediately.

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He stressed the importance of managing factors within the team’s control to rebound in Game 2.

“But giving up 21 threes, giving up 20-plus fast-break points, second-chance points — those are some of the things that we can control,“ James said, underscoring the tactical and mental lapses that led to the crushing loss.

What’s next for the Lakers?

James’ leadership and playoff experience remain vital assets as the Lakers attempt to reset and reclaim momentum before the series shifts to Minnesota.

With the franchise’s postseason hopes in jeopardy, Game 2 will be a defining moment — not just for James, but for a team burdened by championship expectations.