MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards delivered an impressive performance, scoring 23 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 97-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday evening.
Julius Randle contributed significantly with 21 points, while Jaden McDaniels added 18 to bolster the Timberwolves, who have now achieved five wins in their last six outings. Rudy Gobert was dominant on the boards, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds to accompany his 12 points.
The Timberwolves maintain a strong home record against the Lakers, boasting a 14-2 advantage since the 2015-16 season and extending their winning streak to four consecutive games against Los Angeles.
For the Lakers, Anthony Davis led the scoring with 23 points and secured 11 rebounds. Unfortunately, the team recorded its eighth loss in 11 games. Austin Reaves made a notable return after a five-game absence due to a left pelvic contusion, scoring 18 points, while Max Christie supported the effort with 15 points.
Notably, Los Angeles struggled with ball control, committing a total of 21 turnovers throughout the match.
LeBron James missed his second consecutive game due to left foot soreness and had been away from the team earlier this week for personal matters. Coach JJ Redick mentioned before the game that there is no clear timeline for James’ return.
In recent trends, the Lakers have been averaging 103.3 points over their last 11 games, while allowing opponents to score an average of 113.7 points. For the Timberwolves, their recent success can be attributed to strong defensive play, holding the Lakers to only 38.4% shooting. This marked the third time in four games that a Timberwolves opponent failed to surpass 40% shooting. Furthermore, in their last five victories, Minnesota has limited opponents to no more than 92 points.
A crucial moment in the game came when Mike Conley missed a three-pointer for Minnesota, resulting in Rui Hachimura grabbing the rebound for Los Angeles. However, he was quickly stripped of the ball by Randle, who facilitated a fast break by passing to McDaniels for a layup, extending Minnesota’s lead to 89-82 with just over two minutes left to play.
In terms of shooting, Minnesota, which averages 37.5% from beyond the arc, only converted 28.1% of their attempts, hitting 9 of 32. Meanwhile, the Lakers had a similar struggle, finishing with 28.6% from three-point range, making 10 of their 35 shots.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will return home to face the Grizzlies, while the Timberwolves will visit the Spurs on Sunday.
