The Minnesota Timberwolves took a significant step in their playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 116-104 victory in Game 3 on Friday night. The game, held in Minneapolis, showcased standout performances from Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards, who scored 30 and 29 points, respectively. With this win, the Timberwolves now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
Julius Randle contributed 22 points for Minnesota, while bench players Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo added 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Timberwolves dominated the second half, outscoring the Lakers 62-46, which was crucial in securing their victory.
LeBron James led the Lakers with a game-high 38 points, shooting 13-for-21 from the field, and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Austin Reaves added 20 points, aided by five 3-pointers, while Luka Doncic struggled with his shooting, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting. Despite his shooting woes, Doncic contributed eight assists and seven rebounds but was responsible for five of the Lakers’ 19 turnovers.
The game was tightly contested, with the score tied at 103-103 in the fourth quarter after Doncic hit a step-back jumper. However, the Timberwolves quickly regained control. Edwards hit a crucial 3-pointer to put Minnesota ahead 106-103, followed by Reid’s shot from beyond the arc, extending the lead to 109-103.
As the clock wound down, Edwards continued to shine. He drove to the basket for a layup, making it 111-104, and then thrilled the home crowd with a deep 3-pointer, pushing the lead to 113-104. McDaniels capped off the Timberwolves’ late surge with another 3-pointer, sealing the game at 116-104.
The Timberwolves had been trailing at halftime, down 58-54, but a strong start to the second half helped them regain the lead. An 8-0 run early in the third quarter, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Edwards and Randle, set the tone for their comeback.
Game 4 is set for Sunday in Minneapolis, where the Timberwolves will look to extend their series lead. The Lakers will aim to bounce back and even the series.