Timberwolves vs. Lakers/ NBA game recap/ Anthony Edwards/ LeBron James injury/ Lakers turnovers/ Timberwolves defense/ MINNEAPOLIS/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 97-87 on Friday, led by Anthony Edwards’ 23 points and a dominant defensive effort. With LeBron James sidelined, Anthony Davis tallied 23 points for the Lakers, but turnovers and poor shooting sealed their eighth loss in 11 games.
Timberwolves vs. Lakers: Quick Looks
- Top Performers: Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 23 points; Anthony Davis matched with 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.
- Defensive Standout: Timberwolves held the Lakers to 38.4% shooting, their third opponent in four games under 40%.
- Lakers’ Struggles: Without LeBron James, the Lakers committed 21 turnovers and have now lost eight of their last 11 games.
- Key Moment: Julius Randle’s late steal led to a decisive basket by Jaden McDaniels, sealing the game.
Timberwolves Defeat Lakers 97-87 in Defensive Showcase Without LeBron
Deep Look
Timberwolves Secure Defensive Win
The Minnesota Timberwolves showcased their defensive prowess in a 97-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Edwards paced the Timberwolves with 23 points, while Julius Randle added 21 and Jaden McDaniels contributed 18. Rudy Gobert anchored the paint with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Minnesota’s defense held the Lakers to 38.4% shooting and forced 21 turnovers. This marks the third time in four games that the Timberwolves have kept an opponent under 40% from the field. In their past five wins, no team has managed to score more than 92 points.
Lakers Falter Without LeBron
The Lakers struggled offensively in LeBron James’ absence, falling for the eighth time in their last 11 games. Anthony Davis carried the load with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Austin Reaves scored 18 in his return from a five-game injury absence. However, turnovers and poor shooting (28.6% from three-point range) proved costly.
Coach JJ Redick provided no timeline for LeBron’s return, noting pregame that James remains away from the team for personal reasons in addition to managing left foot soreness.
Key Plays and Stats
- Key Moment: Late in the fourth quarter, Julius Randle stole the ball from Rui Hachimura and fed Jaden McDaniels for a layup, pushing Minnesota’s lead to 89-82 with just over two minutes left.
- Shooting Struggles: Minnesota, typically a strong three-point shooting team, hit just 9 of 32 (28.1%) from deep. The Lakers fared only slightly better, shooting 10 of 35 (28.6%).
Team Trends
- Timberwolves: Minnesota has been dominant at home against the Lakers, improving to 14-2 in Minneapolis since the 2015-16 season.
- Lakers: Over their last 11 games, the Lakers are averaging just 103.3 points while allowing opponents to score 113.7 on average.
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