NBA: Timberwolves withstand late charge by Lakers
Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 03, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP
Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Anthony Edwards added 19 points and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 110-102 on Friday.
Naz Reid contributed 15 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota, which has won two straight following a three-game losing skid. Mike Conley scored five of his 14 points in the final 1:13 to help secure the victory.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting, and he went 12 of 14 from the foul line. Davis made a pair of 3-pointers and grabbed five rebounds.
SWEPT L.A.
Rudy – 22 PTS / 14 REB / 3 AST / 2 BLK / 1 STL
Ant – 19 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 2 BLK / 4 STL
Naz – 15 PTS / 8 REB /2 AST / 2 STL
Mike – 14 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST
TP – 13 PTS / 4 REB / 4 AST pic.twitter.com/zzHc8Wa2Oy— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 4, 2023
Malik Beasley amassed 15 points and eight rebounds, Lonnie Walker IV put up 10 points and Dennis Schroder dished out 12 assists. Los Angeles played without star LeBron James (right foot soreness) and D’Angelo Russell, who missed his fourth straight game due to a sprained right ankle.
Trailing by 14 with just under nine minutes remaining, the Lakers battled back and used a 16-6 run to pull within 103-100 with 3:20 left.
Conley sealed the win with clutch play in the end. After making a 3-pointer with 1:13 remaining to put the Wolves ahead by six, Conley hit a jumper with 43 seconds left to provide the final margin.
Davis scored 16 points in the first quarter for the Lakers, who were beginning a five-game homestand. Los Angeles took a 34-33 lead into the second quarter after shooting 56.5 percent.
After Davis picked up his third foul with 4:36 left in the second quarter, Minnesota moved ahead 53-44 on Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s jumper. With Davis on the bench, Los Angeles closed on an 11-3 run to cut the deficit to 56-55 at the break.
Gobert had 11 points and eight rebounds in the first half for the Wolves, who held Davis to two points in the second quarter.
Minnesota led throughout the third quarter after opening on an 11-2 run. The Wolves carried the momentum into the final period and held a 95-81 advantage after Kyle Anderson scored with 8:59 remaining.
The Timberwolves have won their past three meetings against the Lakers, including a 111-102 home victory on Oct. 28.
