Naz Reid scored 31 points, including six 3-pointers, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 127-117 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were missing LeBron James due to illness, and Anthony Davis exited early after suffering an eye injury.
Anthony Edwards contributed 26 points for the Timberwolves, who now share the top spot in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets at 54-24. Despite missing their key players, the Lakers fought hard, with Rui Hachimura scoring 30 points.
Davis’ absence proved critical as the Timberwolves capitalized on the opportunity, dominating with a 46-point second quarter. Rudy Gobert’s 18 points and 16 rebounds helped secure the win for Minnesota.
Reflecting on the victory, Nickeil Alexander-Walker highlighted the team’s cohesive offensive performance, with Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards making significant plays down the stretch.
The win puts the Timberwolves in contention for the top seed in the West, a goal they’ve been striving for all season. However, they face a tough challenge against the Nuggets in their upcoming game.
Despite the loss, the Lakers showed resilience, with Jaxson Hayes stepping up in Davis’ absence and Spencer Dinwiddie contributing 18 points, it was a solid performance from the Timberwolves, bouncing back from a disappointing offensive display in their previous game against the Phoenix Suns.
