LeBron James didn't play well in the Lakers' Game 1 loss to the Timberwolves, but there is a stat that suggests he may bounce back in strong fashion.

LeBron James finished with 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting, along with five rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes. It wasn’t a disastrous performance—but it certainly wasn’t enough. Luka Doncic, acquired midseason in a blockbuster deal involving Anthony Davis, added 37 points of his own.

The most surprising result from the first day of the 2025 NBA playoffs was the Minnesota Timberwolves' 117-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their first-round series. After taking the lead early in the second quarter,