The Timberwolves remained the NBA's only team that hasn't lost consecutive games this season after Thursday's 118-111 over the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center.
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves persevere to topple LeBron-less Lakers 118-111
Anthony Edwards scored 27 points and had seven rebounds and five assists to spark Minnesota past Los Angeles, who were missing LeBron James, and give the Wolves their 10th victory in the past 12 games.
December 22, 2023 at 6:25AM
They're now 21-6, tied with Boston for best in the league. They're also 12-1 at home after beating a Lakers team that started Anthony Davis, who was listed as questionable before the game, but didn't play injured superstar LeBron James.
The Wolves won for the 10th time in their past 12 games and avoided their season's first losing "streak" by winning at home on the second half of a back-to-back that started with Thursday's loss at Philadelphia.
They did so thanks to Anthony Edwards's 27 points against an opponent determined to stop him before a noisy sellout audience of 18,024. They did so by moving the ball to the tune of 32 assists and taking the ball with 19 steals. Included was point guard Mike Conley's thievery from Lakers forward Cam Reddish on a full run in the open court with the Wolves leading 100-95 with fewer than seven minutes remaining.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and six rebounds while fellow starters Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert and Conley also scored in double figures.
Towns left the game with five minutes remaining and did not return.
"I don't have an update on [Towns]," Wolves coach Chris Finch said. "It was kind of a bang he took early in the second half. Hopefully it's not too serious."
Conley played 30-plus minutes and provided two steals, a late blocked shot, eight assists and the steadying influence of a 36-year-old vet.
"Mike is annoyed when I'm asking him how he's feeling," Finch said. "He feels fine. He says he's great. He told me the other day that he usually finds he plays better the second night of a back-to-back. He did so in Phoenix and he did so again [Thursday]. Now I have to believe him. I just trust him."
Conley smiled when asked about that stealthy fourth quarter that kept the Lakers from getting any closer than five points the rest of the way.
"I had a little fun with that one," Conley said. "I've done that my whole life. That's a play that I've been able to make, getting back on defense and stripping guys using my hands and quickness. I've still got it."
Even at his age?
"My age doesn't matter, man," he said, not seeming a bit annoyed. "I'm still moving good, so I'm happy."
Maybe Finch will stop asking now.
"He takes care of his body," Finch said. "We look out for him in the right ways. But he wants to play and I think [Thursday] was probably around the max that we wanted him to play. But we're not overthinking it."
While James watched from the bench, former Timberwolves Taurean Prince, D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt returned to Target Center.
James and Davis were listed as questionable for Wednesday's game at Chicago, but both played in a 124-108 loss.
Davis started against the Wolves, played 39 minutes and scored 31 points on 11-for-20 shooting from the field despite a left ankle sprain and bone bruise.
James, though, was scratched because of left ankle tendinitis after he played 37 minutes in Chicago and came with an assist of a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
The best look the sellout Target Center crowd received of James was when he walked across the court wearing a knit cap and sweater to check on teammate Rui Hachimura, who fell hard underneath the basket at the far end from James and the Lakers.
A video review of the play on which Hachimura went down injured ruled a flagrant foul type 1 on Wolves forward Naz Reid with 34.8 seconds left in the third quarter.
Hachimura made one of two ensuing free throws, but Reid ended the quarter with a three-pointer in the final five seconds and the Wolves led 87-82.
From there, the Wolves held off the Lakers with a 31-28 fourth quarter to finish a night the franchise welcomed back former Wolves center Randy Breuer as part of its alumni program, and popular acrobatic, chair-stacking halftime act the Amazing Sladek.
Before the game, Lakers coach Darvin Ham was asked if James' absence was a new issue or does it stem from a previous lower left leg injury.
"It probably stems from 21 years of frequent-flyer miles," Ham said, referring to the length of James' career.
James and the recent NBA In-Season Tournament champion Lakers return to Minnesota next week already, for James' 39th birthday on Dec. 30.
The Western Conference foes meet Tuesday and Wednesday at Moda Center in Portland.
