Overview

• JJ Redick, in his first game as Lakers head coach, secured a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, ending an eight-year opening night losing streak.
• Despite the victory, Redick expressed dissatisfaction with the use of brand new basketballs, attributing poor three-point shooting to the unfamiliar feel of the balls.
• Redick intends to formally request the NBA to allow teams to use worn-in basketballs, emphasizing that new balls affect players' performance.
• The Lakers struggled with three-point shooting, hitting only 5 of 30 attempts, while the Timberwolves had a better success rate from beyond the arc.
• Former NBA player Jay Williams praised Redick's coaching debut, suggesting the Lakers showed better execution compared to last season under Darvin Ham.