Game ID: 22400849
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 33 25 26 27 111MIN 17 30 26 29 102
LAL vs MIN ScoutingLAL vs MIN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 2/19 · 6 days' restOUT Reddish missed 7 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 17 min since (89% of 19)
BACK Morris back 2/08 after 2, 7 min since (43% of 16)
LAL availability going into 2/20 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 8 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 14 min (138% of 10)
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 15 min since (80% of 19)
BACK Morris back 2/08 after 2, 7 min since (43% of 16)
LAL availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 9 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 2 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (77% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 14 min since (138% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Reddish missed 10 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 13 min since (70% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 11 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 4 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 12 min since (67% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 12 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 5 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Len missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 22 min (214% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 13 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 6 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 8 min (78% of 11)
OUT Len missed 3 since 2/25, out tonight
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 13 min since (128% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 14 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 7 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Len missed 4 since 2/25, returns tonight: 4 min (43% of 10)
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 8 min since (78% of 11)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 20 min since (196% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 32 min (91% of 35)
OUT Hachimura missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 15 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 8 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 14 min since (125% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/04 after 4, 4 min since (43% of 10)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 19 min since (185% of 10)
MIN availability going into 2/13 · back-to-backOUT Randle missed 7 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 15 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Conley missed 3 since 2/08, out tonight
NEW Reid 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/21 · 7 days' restOUT Randle missed 8 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 16 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Conley missed 4 since 2/08, returns tonight: 24 min (98% of 25)
NEW Reid 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 19 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 9 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Gobert missed 2 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 17 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Conley back 2/21 after 4, 24 min since (98% of 25)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Reid 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/24 · back-to-backOUT Randle missed 10 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Gobert missed 3 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 18 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Conley back 2/21 after 4, 28 min since (113% of 25)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Reid 27 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/27 · 2 days' restOUT Randle missed 11 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Gobert missed 4 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT DiVincenzo missed 19 since 1/17, returns tonight: 23 min (90% of 26)
BACK Conley back 2/21 after 4, 23 min since (94% of 25)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Reid 27 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 16 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Randle missed 12 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Gobert missed 5 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK DiVincenzo back 2/27 after 19, 23 min since (90% of 26)
BACK Conley back 2/21 after 4, 24 min since (97% of 25)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW Reid 27 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Dillingham 10 to 15 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 13 since 2/01, returns tonight: 34 min (103% of 33)
OUT Gobert missed 6 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK DiVincenzo back 2/27 after 19, 25 min since (96% of 26)
BACK Conley back 2/21 after 4, 24 min since (97% of 25)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Reid 27 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 20 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Gobert missed 7 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK Randle back 3/02 after 13, 34 min since (103% of 33)
BACK DiVincenzo back 2/27 after 19, 25 min since (99% of 26)
NEW McDaniels 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Reid 27 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Clark 12 to 18 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 3/05 · back-to-backOUT Gobert missed 8 since 2/13, out tonight
BACK Randle back 3/02 after 13, 32 min since (97% of 33)
BACK DiVincenzo back 2/27 after 19, 25 min since (97% of 26)
NEW Reid 27 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Alexander-Walker 25 to 32 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; James at 27 and Dončić at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Reddish (11 straight), Morris (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Reid at 23 a game. Without Randle (11 straight), Gobert (4 straight), DiVincenzo (19 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 106 a night to Minnesota's 117 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 15 times a game to Minnesota's 11. Call it the Lakers 114, Minnesota 110, Minnesota keeping it close.
2/19 vs CHA 97-100 — LAL notes
LAL lost 97-100. LAL shot 41% (37 of 90) to CHA's 36%, 15 of 51 from three. James led with 26 (10 of 22, 4 of 11 from three); Hachimura added 17, Dončić 14. Q1 was theirs, 28-21, but the other 3 periods went 79-69 against them. They led by as many as 13. Vanderbilt's -17 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/20 @ POR 110-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 110-102. LAL shot 48% (39 of 82) to POR's 44%, 9 of 32 from three. LAL turned it over 22 times to POR's 17, and POR turned those into 16 steals. The glass went 48-33 for them. James led with 40 (14 of 24, 4 of 8 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Reaves added 32, Finney-Smith 10. The hinge was Q1, 28-15: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/22 @ DEN 123-100 — LAL notes
LAL won 123-100. LAL shot 50% (43 of 86) to DEN's 40%, 16 of 41 from three. LAL turned it over 8 times to DEN's 20. Dončić led with 32 (10 of 22, 4 of 9 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); James added 25, Reaves 23. The hinge was Q4, 27-13: a lead of 9 became 23, and the lead reached 26. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/25 vs DAL 107-99 — LAL notes
LAL won 107-99. LAL shot 45% (39 of 87) to DAL's 36%, 11 of 40 from three, and went to the line 24 times to DAL's 13 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 57-45 for them. James led with 27 (11 of 17, 2 of 4 from three); Reaves added 20, Dončić 19. The hinge was Q1, 28-20: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/27 vs MIN 111-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 111-102. LAL shot 41% (34 of 82) to MIN's 42%, 11 of 41 from three, and went to the line 46 times to MIN's 26 — 32 points from the stripe to their 20. The glass went 52-41 for them. James led with 33 (11 of 21, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 23, Dončić 21. The hinge was Q1, 33-17: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/28 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; James at 30 and Dončić at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (12 straight), Morris (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 27 and Zubac at 15 a game. Without Powell (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to the Clippers' 117 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and the Clippers minus-2. Call it the Lakers 112, the Clippers 109, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/02 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 28 free throws a game; James at 31 and Dončić at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Reddish (13 straight), Morris (6 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 24 and Leonard at 21 a game. Without Powell (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to the Clippers' 115 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-0. Call it the Lakers 113, the Clippers 107.
3/04 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 26 and James at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Hachimura (2 straight), Reddish (14 straight), Morris (7 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Williamson at 23 and Murphy III at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (8 straight), Boston (9 straight), Payton (39 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 112 and the line, where the Lakers take 27 free throws a game to New Orleans's 18. Call it the Lakers 115, New Orleans 109.
3/06 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 104, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; James at 28 and Dončić at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reaves (2 straight), Hachimura (3 straight), Reddish (15 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Anunoby at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and New York minus-3 and the line, where the Lakers take 28 free throws a game to New York's 17. Call it the Lakers 114, New York 110, New York keeping it close.
2/13 vs OKC 116-101 — MIN notes
MIN won 116-101. MIN shot 42% (42 of 99) to OKC's 42%, 12 of 46 from three. Reid led with 27 (11 of 18, 3 of 9 from three); Edwards added 23, McDaniels 21. The hinge was Q1, 37-24: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Shannon Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/21 @ HOU 115-121 — MIN notes
MIN lost 115-121. MIN took 8 more shots (92 to 84), but shot 45% to HOU's 50%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 26 times to HOU's 32. MIN turned it over 9 times to HOU's 20. The glass went 35-48 against them. Edwards led with 37 (13 of 32, 4 of 14 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Reid added 22, McDaniels 21. Q2 was theirs, 29-20, the deficit cut from 10 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 101-86 against them. Alexander-Walker's -13 in 43 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 vs OKC 123-130 — MIN notes
MIN lost 123-130. MIN shot 44% (39 of 89) to OKC's 56%, 18 of 45 from three, and went to the line 28 times to OKC's 20 — 27 points from the stripe to their 15. Edwards led with 29 (8 of 21, 4 of 13 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Reid added 22, Alexander-Walker 18. Q2 was theirs, 40-26, turning a 12-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 104-83 against them. Shannon Jr.'s -22 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 @ OKC 131-128 — MIN notes
MIN won 131-128 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 45% (44 of 97) to OKC's 42%, 9 of 32 from three, and went to the line 39 times to OKC's 29 — 34 points from the stripe to their 23. McDaniels led with 27 (9 of 16, 9 of 9 at the line); Reid added 22, Alexander-Walker 21. The hinge was Q4, 41-19: MIN came in trailing by 22 and left it level. MIN trailed 45-64 at the half and won the second half 86-64. Alexander-Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/27 @ LAL 102-111 — MIN notes
MIN lost 102-111. MIN shot 42% (35 of 84) to LAL's 41%, 12 of 41 from three, and got to the line 26 times to LAL's 46. The glass went 41-52 against them. Shannon Jr. led with 25 (9 of 15, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Edwards added 18, McDaniels 15. Q2 was theirs, 30-25, the deficit cut from 16 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 86-72 against them.
2/28 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 19 and Markkanen at 16 a game. Without Markkanen (2 straight), Collins (3 straight), Sexton (10 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 28 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and McDaniels at 20 a game. Without Randle (12 straight), Gobert (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the arc, Utah at 37 percent from three to Minnesota's 31 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to Minnesota's 11. Call it Utah 116, Minnesota 115, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/02 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 125, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Beal at 26 a game. Without Beal (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and McDaniels at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Randle (13 straight), Gobert (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 42 percent from three to Minnesota's 34 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-0 a night and Minnesota minus-7. Call it Phoenix 118, Minnesota 117, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/04 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and McDaniels at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Gobert (7 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 20 and George at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Okeke (9 straight), Lowry (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Minnesota 118, Philadelphia 109.
3/05 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 119, shooting 39 percent and 28 from three, 19 free throws a game; Bridges at 21 and Ball at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (44 straight), Simpson (2 straight), Okogie (15 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 24 and McDaniels at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Gobert (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 18 times a game to Minnesota's 11 and the arc, Minnesota at 37 percent from three to Charlotte's 28. Call it Minnesota 113, Charlotte 108.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
DF D. Finney-Smith
DK D. Knecht
GV G. Vincent
JG J. Goodwin
JH J. Hayes
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
RH R. Hachimura
MINAE A. Edwards
DD D. DiVincenzo
JC J. Clark
JM J. McDaniels
LG L. Garza
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RD R. Dillingham
TS T. Shannon Jr.
LAL/MIN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
LeBron James powers the Lakers to 4th straight victory, 111-102 over the Timberwolves
LOS ANGELES -- — LeBron James had 33 points and 17 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers won their fourth straight game, holding off the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-102 on Thursday night.
Austin Reeves added 23 points and Luka Doncic had 21 points and 13 rebounds to help the Lakers improve to 14-3 since Jan. 21.
Terrence Shannon Jr . led Minnesota with a career-high 25 points. The Timberwolves have dropped three of four and five of seven.
The Timberwolves were able to rally back despite All-Star guard Anthony Edwards being ejected with 5:27 remaining in the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul.
Edwards threw the ball into the stands after being ejected. If both technical fouls are upheld, he will be suspended one game for picking up 16 technicals this season.
Edwards, who is fourth in the league in scoring at 27.3 points per game, had 18 points.
Minnesota was down 92-77 less than three minutes into the fourth quarter before it made a 13-1 run.
Doncic though stifled the Timberwolves' momentum by making an off-balance 3-pointer with 3:37 remaining and while the shot clock was winding down to put the Lakers up 98-91.
Takeaways Timberwolves: Minnesota overcame a 25-point, second-half deficit Monday night to defeat Oklahoma City, but could not pull off a miraculous comeback for the second straight game.
Lakers: A 3-pointer by James gave the Lakers a 47-24 lead early in the second quarter before the Timberwolves started to slowly come back.
Key moment Doncic had five assists, including a cross court pass to James early in the first quarter, who finished it off with a layup to give the Lakers a 9-3 advantage.
Key stat The 17 rebounds by James ties a season high.
Up next Both teams play Friday night. The Timberwolves are at Utah, and the Lakers host the Clippers.