LeBron James scored 38, but the La Lakers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference NBA Playoffs Series.
Jaden McDaniels scored 30 points, Anthony Edwards scored 29 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves scored a 116-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoff series in Minneapolis.
Julius Randle added 22 points to Minnesota to take a 2-1 lead in the Best of Seven Series. Naz Reid and Donte Divincenzo chipped off the bench with 11 and 10 points respectively.
LeBron James scored a game-high 38 points in a 21-13 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Los Angeles on Friday night. The Austin Raves scored 20 points mainly thanks to five three-pointers, while Lukadon Sic scored 17 points, but only six out of 16 shots from the field and two out of the 3-point range. Donsic also scored five of Los Angeles’ 19 turnovers, but contributed to eight assists and seven rebounds.
The Timberwolves outperformed the Lakers 62-46 in the second half.
Doncic ran towards Rim and scored 103-103 at 4:37 and 4:37, making his appearance in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles chased 100-93 after the lead knocked down a 3-pointer with 7:31 left.
The Timberwolves returned their lead to seven points in the next few minutes.
Edwards brought Minnesota back to Top 106-103 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key going at 4:19. The lead went 109-103 with a 3-pointer from the left field.
Edwards took control again after Reaves created one of the two free throws to reduce the deficit to 109-104. He drove against James and finished his layup to increase the Timberwolves’ lead, leading 111-104 with 2:18 left.
Edwards then dribbled between his legs and left 1:06 behind for a long triple to go backwards and leave 113-104.
Rui Hachimura missed the 3-pointer on the opposite side of the Lakers, and McDaniels added to the late surge with a 3-pointer from the right corner, making it 116-104 with 39.1 seconds left.
The Timberwolves led 86-84 at the end of the third quarter.
Running 8-0 early in the third quarter, Minnesota managed to overtake the Lakers. Edwards and Randle hit a back-to-back three-pointer to interrupt the run. This ended when James pulled Los Angeles within 67-65 to score in an alley dunk.
Edwards provided a highlight reel play that left 4:39 in the third quarter and gave the Timberwolves a 76-72 edge. He drove through the baseline and passed Donsey, leaping for a dunk.
The Lakers led 58-54 in the half.
Game 4 will be in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoons.
In two previous playoff games on Friday, Gary Trent JR and Giannis Anteto Compo each scored 37 points, leading the Bucks to a 117-101 comeback victory for the Visiting Indiana Pacers, reducing Milwaukee’s deficit to 2-1 in the first round playoff series of the Eastern Conference.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday in Milwaukee.
In Florida, Franz Wagner survived a wild finish by breaking a slow tie with Christaps Porzingis and Orlando Magic’s successive driving hoops, riding on a choking defense, and visited the Boston Celtics 95-93 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference’s First Round Playoff Series.
Wagner finished with a team high 32 points and a Paolo Bancello 29. Magic served at home after losing the first two games of the Top 7 Series in Boston. Game 4 will also be held in Orlando on Sunday.
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