LeBron James begins his quest for a fifth NBA championship when the Lakers host the Timberwolves in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday night.
The Lakers enter the playoffs with legitimate title hopes, buoyed by the one-two punch of James and Luka Doncic, two of the league's best playmakers. The midseason blockbuster that brought Doncic to Los Angeles changed the entire complexion of the Western Conference, reasserting the Lakers as bona fide contenders.
In each of the last two playoffs, the Lakers saw their championship aspirations foiled by the Nuggets, who inflicted several heartbreaking losses.
Minnesota last saw its title hopes dashed by Doncic, who picked the Timberwolves' vaunted defense apart in last year's Western Conference Finals. The new-look Timberwolves, with Julius Randle at the "4" instead of Karl-Anthony Towns, have their sights set on a longer playoff run; much of their success is contingent on the play of Anthony Edwards, a three-time All-Star hoping to leave his mark on the biggest stage.
Here's what you need to know about Saturday's matchup between the Lakers and the Timberwolves, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Lakers vs. Timberwolves on today?
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: Sling
Lakers vs. Timberwolves Game 1 will air live on ABC, with Mark Jones (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst), and Jorge Sedano (reporter) on the call.
Fans looking to stream Lakers vs. Timberwolves can watch live on Sling, which will carry every NBA playoff game in 2025.
Sling is your home for playoff action. Catch NBA and NHL postseason games with a range of sports channels, including TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, ABC and more.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves start time
- Date: Saturday, April 19
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT
Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs series between Los Angeles and Minnesota is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
This will be the third time that the two teams clash in a playoff series; they met in back-to-back years in 2003 and 2004, with the Lakers winning both series — including the 2004 Western Conference Finals.
Minnesota is set for its fourth consecutive playoff appearance under head coach Chris Finch. But after an offseason trade of Towns, this year's group has a new look.
The same can be said for the Lakers, buoyed by the stunning midseason acquisition of Luka Doncic, pairing two of the NBA's best players in Doncic and LeBron James.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM
Fans can listen to the Lakers vs. Timberwolves broadcast live on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2025
Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Play-In Tournament | April 15-18 |
| First round begins | April 19 |
| Conference semifinals begin | May 5-6 |
| NBA Draft Lottery | May 12 |
| Western Conference finals begin | May 20 |
| Eastern Conference finals begin | May 21 |
| NBA Finals begin | June 5 |
| NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 22 |
| NBA Draft | June 25-26 |
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