MINNEAPOLIS — Jaden McDaniels converted a three-point play with 39.5 seconds left and stole the ensuing inbounds pass from LeBron James, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 116-113 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, putting them ahead 3-1 in the first-round series.
Anthony Edwards, who led Minnesota in scoring for the first time in the NBA playoffs with 43 points, drew a foul on James during a drive to the lane with 10 seconds left and made both free throws.
With Luka Doncic and James well-defended along the arc, the ball went to Austin Reaves in the corner for the game-tying shot, which rimmed out and was rebounded by McDaniels at the buzzer.
For the Timberwolves, Julius Randle scored 25 points and McDaniels had 16 points and 11 rebounds as they trailed by 12 points late in the third quarter.
Doncic recovered from a stomach bug to score 38 points on 13-for-28 shooting, but the Lakers were headed home for a win-or-be-eliminated Game 5 on Wednesday.
Doncic, who battled illness and finished with only 17 points in Game 3, was clearly feeling better after a full day of rest. But in the fourth quarter, he went 1 for 6 from the floor.
James recorded his 144th career double-double in the playoffs, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain for third place in history behind Tim Duncan (164) and Magic Johnson (157). James went 15 for 18 from the free-throw line in the Lakers’ best game of the series, but he went scoreless in the fourth quarter.
With 1:29 remaining, Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Lakers ahead again, but the Wolves took control from there.
With the arena quiet and fans returning to their seats after the break, the Lakers went on a 14-0 run to start the third quarter. Reaves, who had gone scoreless in the first half due to foul trouble, got hot. Hachimura followed suit, and coach J.J. Redick used the same lineup throughout the quarter.
During that period, the Wolves received two technical fouls, the first on Rudy Gobert for elbowing James in the back of the head during a rebound scrap.
However, for the second straight game, the home team dominated down the stretch, following a string of clutch flops during the regular season.