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The Minnesota Timberwolves took on the LA Lakers for the third time this season on Thursday. Minnesota, which is 2-0 versus the home team, will be looking to win the head-to-head pairing with another victory. Beating the Lakers would be tough as the Timberwolves entered the game without injured stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.
Without "KAT" and Gobert, the Timberwolves opened with Naz Reid playing center. He had a superb game in the loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday so Minnesota coach Chris Finch didn't hesitate to start him.
The change helped as the Minnesota Timberwolves kept the game close against the loaded LA Lakers. Reid, Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley helped the visitors stay within striking distance. The first quarter ended with LA up 32-28.
The second quarter was more of the same seesaw battle. Austin Reaves had 10 points but Minnesota stubbornly kept up. Naz Reid sustained his sizzling-hot form and dropped 21 in the first half. Jaden McDaniels also showed his two-way impact for the Timberwolves.
LeBron James took just five shots but he had a couple of nifty passes that led to easy points for the Lakers. Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura combined for 30 points to lead 69-68 before the halftime break.
The third quarter became another back-and-fort contest between the Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Lakers. It looked like the home team would break the game open but Minnesota managed to keep it close. Naz Reid wasn't as hot but Nickeil Walker-Alexander and Anthony Edwards came up crucial shots.
While the first three quarters were a slugest, the fourth period was all Lakers. Anthony Davis feasted on both ends of the floor while Austin Reaves and LeBron James made Minnesota pay almost every time LA had the ball. Whether it was scoring or playmaking, the duo pushed the purple-and-gold to a blistering quarter.
Midway through the pivotal period, the Lakers completed a 21-4 run that forced Minnesota's second timeout in the quarter. The Timberwolves finally showed some resistance by cutting the advantage to 112-102 with four minutes in the game.
LeBron James had an efficient night, particularly in the second half where he scored 21 of his 29 points. Anthony Davis had 27 points and 25 rebounds, 10 of which were on the offensive end, which tied a career-high. He became the first Laker to have at least 25 points and 25 rebounds in a game since Shaquille O'Neal did it in 2004.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs LA Lakers game player stats and box scores
Minnesota Timberwolves game player stats
LA Lakers game player stats
LeBron James, D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards 3-pointers tonight
LeBron James went 1-for-1 in 3-pointers tonight while D'Angelo Russell was 1-for-2 in the first half for the LA Lakers.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards continued his struggles from behind the arc, finishing 0-for-2 in the same stretch on Sunday.
The final whistle saw "King James" go 2-for-4 while D'Angelo Russell went 2-for 5 from deep. Edwards coughed up a 2-for-9 clip from deep for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
