Jarred Vanderbilt says Lakers confidence is still high after Game 1 loss

Despite dropping Game 1 against the Wolves, Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers are still confident they can defeat the Wolves.

The Lakers didn’t just lose to the Wolves on Saturday, they were soundly beaten.

Minnesota dominated Los Angeles, taking control over the game in the second quarter and never giving it back. Now, the Lakers were beaten soundly, trail in the series and have given up home court to start this series.

Despite all that, the Lakers aren’t yet panicking or wavering in their belief.

“I mean, it’s the playoffs, so we’re going to have adversity,” Jarred Vanderbilt said. “We’re not going to get too high, too low about this game. Our confidence is still as high as ever in this series right now.”

This wasn’t just “one of 82,” but in the end, the series will not be won or lost by a single game. It’s the first to four and it's good that inside the Lakers’ camp, there isn’t a sense of worry after a bump in the road.

To be clear, though, Minnesota did come out and make a statement.

The Wolves used their size to dominate the paint, kick out to their shooters, and players hit shots. Minnesota was able to convert on 50% of their 3-pointers, and with that elite shooting, Los Angeles was buried in this contest.

A playoff series is like a chessboard and every game each team moves one of their pieces. Minnesota’s first move was better than Los Angeles’ but if they adjust, Game 2 could belong to the Lakers.

As Vando mentioned, adversity is a part of this journey, and throughout the regular season, the Lakers experienced plenty of that, from losing streaks to injuries and even major roster upheaval. Despite it all, they found a way to have a 50-win season, and now they are being put to the test again.

If they are made of championship valor, they will bounce back and even this series on Tuesday. The Lakers’ confidence is high. Now, let’s see if their level of execution is even higher.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.