MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards had 27 factors to regular Minnesota and the Timberwolves beat Los Angeles 118-111 on Thursday handy the Lakers – with LeBron James sitting out on the second evening of back-to-back video games – their fourth straight loss.
At 21-6, the West-leading Timberwolves tied Boston for the general NBA lead.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 factors for Minnesota earlier than limping to the locker room for additional examination on an lower-leg harm with 5:07 left and the Wolves awake after a sleepy third quarter.
Mike Conley completed with 16 factors, eight assists and two of the workforce’s 13 steals and Rudy Gobert had 15 factors and 13 rebounds because the Wolves averted consecutive losses for the primary time this season and improved to 12-1 at house.
Anthony Davis had 31 factors and eight rebounds, and Rui Hachimura – within the beginning lineup with James out to relaxation tendinitis in his ankle – scored 18 factors because the Lakers fell to 1-5 since profitable the NBA In-Season Tournament. They’re 15-14 general and 5-11 on the highway.
The Lakers have been in a mini-slump during the last 12 days, whether or not or not the lag was associated to the funding of power into profitable the league’s inaugural sideshow in Las Vegas on Dec. 9.
PHOTOS: Timberwolves hand LeBron-less Lakers 4th straight loss, 118-111
Davis was listed as questionable with an ankle harm, however he performed on whereas James watched from the bench in a stocking hat and hooded sweatshirt. With Austin Reaves (18 factors) offering a burst and a number of other swishes off the bench and Taurean Prince – one in every of three former Timberwolves within the rotation – hitting all of 4 of his 3-pointers, the Lakers hung round all evening.
D’Angelo Russell, who was in as deep within the rut as anybody on the Lakers and had solely two factors at Chicago on Wednesday evening, completed sturdy and had 17 factors and eight assists in opposition to his outdated workforce. Still, he’s simply 20 for 57 from the ground in his final 5 video games.
UP NEXT
Lakers: At Oklahoma City on Saturday evening.
Timberwolves: At Sacramento on Saturday evening.
