MINNEAPOLIS — With so many promising performances ruined by late mistakes fresh in their minds, the Minnesota Timberwolves certainly timed their strong finish well.
Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and led Minnesota’s stifling defense against an injured Luka Doncic, helping the Timberwolves defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.
“Jaden never seems tired. “He appears to be capable of playing 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
Julius Randle scored 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored the Lakers 13-1 in the final 4:37, following Doncic’s tying baseline jumper.
“Our best closing effort of the year, no doubt,” said coach Chris Finch.
With Doncic suffering from a stomach illness, LeBron James carried the team, scoring 38 points. He hit three 3-pointers in a four-possession stretch midway through the fourth quarter.
“He was shooting it from Yucatan,” Edwards remarked. “He was shooting it crazy.”
But James couldn’t find a shot after that hot streak, even hitting the backboard with a corner heave with 1:26 left. On the next possession, Edwards drained a long 2-pointer to seal the victory, sauntering over to the court’s edge during a timeout to encourage the crowd to roar even louder.
“That was probably the most fun I’ve had in Target Center, for sure,” Edwards told the crowd.
The fourth game will take place in Minneapolis on Sunday.
Austin Reaves scored 20 points on 5-for-11 shooting from three, and the Lakers stayed hot all night to keep the game close, offsetting 19 turnovers that the Wolves converted into 28 points.
“They’re big, long, athletic, they pressure the ball, and they make everything difficult,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick said. “We’re going to have some turnovers.”
Randle, a first-round draft pick by the Lakers in 2014 who missed the playoffs with New York last year and has only appeared in 18 career postseason games, was particularly excited for his first home playoff game with Minnesota. He shot 9 for 10 from the free throw line and hustled all over the floor, helping the Wolves to a 56-26 advantage in points in the paint.
Doncic was frequently smothered by Mc Daniels, Minnesota’s top perimeter defender, and had a slow start. Doncic needed a step-back 28-footer with Edwards guarding him in the final seconds of the first half to make it eight points at halftime.