Timberwolves Defeat Lakers 97-87 In Impressive Home Victory

Minnesota Timberwolves guards Donte DiVincenzo (0) and Rob Dillingham (4) react during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Minneapolis. (

The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 97-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling matchup on Friday night. Anthony Edwards led the charge for the Timberwolves with 23 points, supported by Julius Randle's 21 points and Jaden McDaniels' 18 points. Rudy Gobert's dominant performance on the boards with 13 rebounds and 12 points also played a crucial role in Minnesota's success.

Notably, the Timberwolves have maintained a strong record against the Lakers at home, boasting a 14-2 record since the 2015-16 season, including four consecutive wins.

Rudy Gobert had 13 rebounds and 12 points for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards scored 23 points for the Timberwolves.

Timberwolves have a strong home record against the Lakers.

Lakers struggled with turnovers, committing 21 in the game.

LeBron James was absent for the Lakers due to injury and personal reasons.

Julius Randle's steal and assist were crucial for the Timberwolves.

Both teams had low 3-point shooting percentages in the game.

The Lakers have struggled defensively in recent games.

Minnesota's defense has been strong in recent victories.

The Lakers will face the Grizzlies, and the Timberwolves will play the Spurs next.

Despite a commendable effort from Anthony Davis, who contributed 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, the team faced their eighth loss in 11 games. Austin Reaves made a solid return to the court after missing five games due to injury, scoring 18 points, while Max Christie added 15 points to the Lakers' tally.

Turnovers plagued the Lakers throughout the game, as they committed a total of 21 turnovers, hindering their offensive rhythm.

LeBron James was notably absent for the Lakers for the second consecutive game due to left foot soreness and personal reasons, leaving a gap in the team's lineup.

In terms of performance trends, the Lakers have struggled defensively in their recent games, allowing an average of 113.7 points while only scoring 103.3 points per game. On the other hand, the Timberwolves have excelled defensively, holding opponents to low shooting percentages in their recent victories.

A key moment in the game came when Mike Conley missed a crucial 3-pointer for Minnesota, but Julius Randle's steal and quick assist to Jaden McDaniels for a layup extended the Timberwolves' lead to 89-82 with just over two minutes remaining.

Despite both teams struggling from beyond the arc, with Minnesota shooting 28.1% and the Lakers shooting 28.6% from 3-point range, the Timberwolves managed to secure the win.

Looking ahead, the Lakers will face the Grizzlies at home, while the Timberwolves are set to take on the Spurs in their next matchup on Sunday.

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