In Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104. Jaden McDaniels scored 30 points, Anthony Edwards had 29, and Anthony Edwards had 29.
Minnesota, which held the best-of-seven series to a 2-1 lead, added 22 points thanks to Julius Randle. On the bench, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo each scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
LeBron James led Los Angeles on Friday night with a game-high 38 points and 10 rebounds on 13-for-21 shooting. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves each scored 17 points, but they only made 6 of 16 field shots and 2 of 8 from 3-point range, largely thanks to five 3-pointers. Doncic also collected eight assists and seven rebounds out of Los Angeles’ 19 turnovers, including five.
In the second half, the Timberwolves won 62-46.
With 4:37 left in the fourth quarter, Doncic headed toward the rim and made a step-back jumper to make the score 103-103. With 7:31 left, Reid knocked down a 3-pointer to give Los Angeles a 100-93 lead.
In the following few minutes, the Timberwolves extended their lead by seven points.
With 4:19 left, Edwards scored a 3-pointer from the top of the key to restore Minnesota’s lead to 106-103. Reid made it 109-103 with a 3-pointer from the left wing after that.
Edwards regained control after Reaves made one of two free throws to reduce the deficit to 109-104. With 2: 18 left, he drove against James and finished with a layup to make the Timberwolves’ 111-104 lead.
With 1:16 left, Edwards then dribbled between his legs and stepped back for a long triple, making it 113-104.
With 39.1 seconds left, the Lakers made it 116-104 with a 3-pointer from the right corner, adding to the late surge with Rui Hachimura’s missed 3-pointer on the opposite end.
At the conclusion of the third quarter, the Timberwolves held an 86-84 lead.
Minnesota overcame the Lakers with an 8-0 run early in the third quarter. The run ended with James scoring on an alley-oop dunk to bring Los Angeles within 67-65 after Edwards and Randle hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
With 4:39 remaining in the third quarter, Edwards gave the Timberwolves a 76-72 advantage on highlight-reel play. He soared past a leaping Doncic for a dunk before driving the baseline.
At halftime, the Lakers had a 58-54 lead.
On Sunday afternoon, Game 4 will take place in Minneapolis.
Gary Trent Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo each scored 37 points as the Bucks defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers 117-101 in the first-round playoff series to reduce Milwaukee’s lead to 2-1.
In Milwaukee on Sunday, Game 4 is scheduled.
In Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series, the Orlando Magic defeated the visiting Boston Celtics 95-93 after Franz Wagner broke a late tie with consecutive driving hoops over Kristaps Porzingis.
The Magic held serve at home after losing their opening two games of the best-of-seven series in Boston, so Wagner finished with a team-high 32 points and Paolo Banchero 29. On Sunday, Orlando will host Game 4.
Source: Aljazeera
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