The Timberwolves looked like they might just do it again Thursday in Los Angeles.
Three days after rallying from 25 points down to stun Oklahoma City, Minnesota trimmed a 23-point deficit that was still as big as 15 in the fourth quarter down to just three won a Jaden McDaniels’ layup to cap a 13-1 run with north of five minutes to play.
But the Lakers have a trio in LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves that guarantees Los Angeles’ a certain baseline of late-game offensive success. They generated a number of looks around the basket that resulted in a whopping 23 fourth-quarter free throws that stemmed the tide and helped secure a 111-102 victory over Minnesota.
As was the case in Oklahoma City, Minnesota’s rally Thursday came with Anthony Edwards not on the floor. Only this time, he wasn’t even on the bench. Edwards was ejected in the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul of the evening when he, as crew chief James Williams put it in the postgame pool report, directed “profanity toward the game official.” Edwards’ first technical of the night game in the form of a double-tech between he and former teammate Jarred Vanderbilt amid a mini spat between the two.
As he was walking off the court, Edwards threw the ball into the stands, an act that will likely carry, at minimum, another fine.
The second technical Thursday was No. 16 on the season for Edwards, an important threshold. Assuming neither call from Thursday is rescinded by the NBA, the guard will be suspended for Friday’s game in Utah.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“He’s got to be better,” Wolves coach Chris Finch told reporters. “He’s had too many outbursts. I think a lot of (the techs) are deserved. They’re going to miss some calls from time to time, for sure. So he’s got to be better. We’ve been talking to him about it, so it’s on him.”
Without Edwards, Minnesota (32-28) used a similar formula it used to rally past Oklahoma City to tighten Thursday’s affair. The Wolves forced misses from the Lakers, grabbed the ensuing defensive rebound and took off the other way. The Wolves scored nine of their 23 fast break points in the final frame. Rookie wing Terrence Shannon Jr. — a walking transition opportunity — led the Wolves with 25 points, including 12 in the fourth.
But given the hole they dug themselves, the Wolves had to be perfect down the stretch, and they had a couple careless giveaways that stunted momentum and Los Angeles eventually put the game away.
LeBron James finished with 33 points, 17 rebounds and six assists for the Lakers (36-21), while Reaves had 23 points and Doncic had 21 points and 12 boards. Los Angeles is now five games clear of Minnesota in the West standings.
Playing in his first game since suffering a toe injury in mid-January, Donte DiVincenzo had nine points, six assists and five rebounds for the Wolves. Naz Reid struggled mightily, going 1 for 10 from the field.
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