Minneapolis – The Minnesota Timberwolves have found new gear after a regular season fit and start.
Jaden McDaniels converted a three-point play with 39.5 seconds remaining, stealing an inbound pass from LeBron James afterwards leading the Timberwolves rally to win the Los Angeles Lakers 116-13, bringing them up 3-1 in Sunday’s first round series.
Anthony Edwards, who scored 43 points to score Minnesota for the first time in this edition of the NBA playoffs, drew a foul on James while driving into the lane with 10 seconds remaining, hitting both free throws.
With Luka Donsic and James fully defended along the arc, the ball went to Austin Reeves on the corner for an attempt at a horned ties.
Julius Randle added 25 points, while McDaniels had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Wolves, dragging 12 later in the third quarter.
“It was a hallmark of this team later in the season. There was no panic,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said.
Donsic bouncing off a stomach bug with 38 points in a 28-13 shooting, but the Lakers headed home for Game 5, which was won on Wednesday.
“We’ll have to fight a lot because it’s even more difficult to get the next one,” Randle said.
Donsic clearly felt better after taking a day off after fighting illness in Game 3 after only 17 points. However, he went 6-6 from the floor in the fourth quarter.
James had 27 points and 12 rebounds in his 144th career double-double in the playoffs, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain in the third in history behind Tim Duncan (164) and Magic Johnson (157). James went 15 at 18 at 15 from the free throw line and decided to reach the rim, the best game by the Lakers’ offense in the series, but he was fourth-most scoreless.
Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith hit a back-to-back 3 pointer to bring the Lakers back forward with the rest of 1:29, but the Wolves took it from there.
The Lakers began the third quarter with a 14-0 run as the arenas got quiet while fans returned to their seats from the break. Reeves was scoreless in the first half due to foul trouble, and it was getting hot. Tamura did that, with manager JJ Reddick riding in the same lineup throughout the quarter.
However, in the second consecutive game, the home team dominated the stretch to keep turning the regular season trends back in timely. The Wolves outscored the Lakers with a total of 105-69 in the fourth quarter of all games.
“We’ve lost nothing yet,” Donsic said. “It’s still the first 1-4 wins and we still have to believe.”
