Wolves hold off Lakers as LeBron James (ankle) sits out

Field Level Media|published: Thu 21st December, 23:52 2023

Dec 21, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) jumps up and blocks a shot from Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) plays defense in the first half at Target Center. credits: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Edwards scored 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 118-111 win over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night in Minneapolis.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points for Minnesota, which bounced back from a loss one night earlier against the Philadelphia 76ers. Rudy Gobert notched a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Anthony Davis scored 31 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Lakers, who lost their fourth consecutive game. Austin Reaves added 20 points and Rui Hachimura scored 18.

Lakers star LeBron James did not play on the second night of a back-to-back set because of what the team described as a sore left ankle. Gabe Vincent also sat out because of a left knee injury.

The Lakers pulled within 104-99 with 5:14 remaining when Hachimura scored a basket off a feed from D'Angelo Russell.

Minnesota responded with a 12-4 run to seize a 116-103 advantage with 2:34 left. Rudy Gobert made an alley-oop layup and Mike Conley made a 3-pointer during the decisive run.

The Timberwolves led 87-83 at the end of the third quarter.

Hachimura hit a 3-pointer to put the Lakers on top 82-81 with 1:01 to go in the third quarter. Minnesota regained the lead as Edwards and Naz Reid made 3-pointers in the final minute.

Minnesota led 63-59 at the half.

Davis led all scorers with 18 points before the break. Edwards paced the Timberwolves with 14 points.

Taurean Prince drained a 3-pointer for the Lakers with 0.1 seconds left in the first quarter to cut the Lakers' deficit to 36-32. It was the first game back in Minnesota for Prince, who spent the previous two seasons with the Timberwolves before signing with Los Angeles during the offseason.

Both teams scored 27 points during the second quarter, which allowed the Timberwolves to preserve a four-point lead at halftime.

A 3-pointer by Jaden McDaniels put Minnesota on top 63-54 with 57 seconds left in the first half, but the Lakers closed the half with two free throws by Reaves and another 3-pointer by Prince, who finished with 14 points.

—Field Level Media

Latest