Apr 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) shoots the ball over Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) in the first half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Jaden McDaniels scored 30 points, Anthony Edwards had 29, and the Minnesota Timberwolves finished strong for a 116-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Julius Randle added 22 points for Minnesota, which took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo came off the bench to chip in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
LeBron James netted 38 points on 13-for-21 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Los Angeles. Austin Reaves scored 20 points, thanks largely to five 3-pointers, and Luka Doncic scored 17 points but made only 6 of 16 shots from the field and 2 of 8 from 3-point range. Doncic also had five of Los Angeles’ 19 turnovers but contributed eight assists and seven rebounds.
The Timberwolves outscored the Lakers 62-46 in the second half.
Doncic drove toward the rim and made a step-back jumper to even the score at 103-all with 4:37 to go. Los Angeles had trailed 100-93 after Reid knocked down a 3-pointer with 7:31 remaining.
The Timberwolves built their lead back to seven points in the next couple minutes.
Edwards put Minnesota back on top 106-103 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 4:19 to go. Reid followed with a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 109-103.
After Reaves made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to 109-104, Edwards took control once again. He drove against James and finished with a layup to increase the Timberwolves’ lead to 111-104 with 2:18 remaining.
Edwards then set the home crowd into hysterics when he dribbled between his legs and stepped back for a long jump shot to make it 113-104 with 1:06 left.
Rui Hachimura missed a 3-pointer on the opposite end for the Lakers, and McDaniels added to the late surge with a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it 116-104 with 39.1 seconds left.
The Timberwolves led 86-84 at the end of the third quarter.
An 8-0 run early in the third quarter allowed Minnesota to overtake the Lakers. Edwards and Randle hit back-to-back 3-pointers to punctuate the run, which ended when James scored on an alley-oop dunk to pull Los Angeles within 67-65.
Edwards provided a highlight-reel play to give the Timberwolves a 76-72 edge with 4:39 left in the third quarter. He drove the baseline and soared past a leaping Doncic for a dunk.
The Lakers led 58-54 at the half.
–Field Level Media
