Game ID: 42400162
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 34 24 23 13 94MIN 15 28 22 20 85
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 4/09 · back-to-backOUT Morris missed 9 since 3/24, out tonight
OUT Len missed 9 since 3/24, out tonight
BACK Milton back 4/04 after 6, 2 min since (17% of 11)
BACK Jemison III back 4/04 after 5, 3 min since (33% of 10)
LAL availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 10 since 3/24, out tonight
OUT Len missed 10 since 3/24, out tonight
BACK Milton back 4/04 after 6, 2 min since (17% of 11)
BACK Jemison III back 4/04 after 5, 3 min since (27% of 10)
LAL availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 11 since 3/24, returns tonight: 33 min (212% of 16)
OUT Len missed 11 since 3/24, returns tonight: 14 min (130% of 10)
BACK Milton back 4/04 after 6, 3 min since (24% of 11)
BACK Jemison III back 4/04 after 5, 3 min since (30% of 10)
LAL availability going into 4/19 · 5 days' restBACK Morris back 4/13 after 11, 33 min since (212% of 16)
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 14 min since (130% of 10)
NEW Milton 11 to 16 min over the last 3
LAL availability going into 4/22 · 2 days' restBACK Morris back 4/13 after 11, 33 min since (212% of 16)
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 8 min since (79% of 10)
LAL availability going into 4/25 · 2 days' restOUT Morris missed 2 since 4/19, out tonight
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 8 min since (79% of 10)
NEW Milton 11 to 17 min over the last 3
LAL availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 3 since 4/19, out tonight
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 6 min since (55% of 10)
LAL availability going into 4/30 · 2 days' restOUT Morris missed 4 since 4/19, out tonight
BACK Len back 4/13 after 11, 6 min since (55% of 10)
NEW Dončić 36 to 42 min over the last 4
NEW James 35 to 41 min over the last 4
NEW Finney-Smith 29 to 35 min over the last 4
MIN availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Dillingham missed 2 since 4/05, returns tonight: 1 min (8% of 10)
MIN availability going into 4/11 · back-to-backBACK Dillingham back 4/10 after 2, 1 min since (8% of 10)
MIN availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restBACK Dillingham back 4/10 after 2, 2 min since (21% of 10)
MIN availability going into 4/19 · 5 days' restBACK Dillingham back 4/10 after 2, 2 min since (21% of 10)
MIN availability going into 4/22 · 2 days' restOUT Dillingham missed 2 since 4/13, out tonight
MIN availability going into 4/25 · 2 days' restOUT Dillingham missed 3 since 4/13, out tonight
MIN availability going into 4/27 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 2 since 4/22, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 4 since 4/13, out tonight
MIN availability going into 4/30 · 2 days' restOUT Clark missed 3 since 4/22, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 5 since 4/13, out tonight
NEW Randle 33 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 5/06 · 5 days' restOUT Clark missed 4 since 4/22, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 6 since 4/13, out tonight
NEW Randle 33 to 38 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 2-3 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and James at 22 a game. 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-7 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 105 a night to the Lakers' 114. Call it Minnesota 113, the Lakers 111, the Lakers keeping it close.
4/09 @ DAL 112-97 — LAL notes
LAL won 112-97. LAL shot 47% (42 of 90) to DAL's 50%, 12 of 36 from three. LAL turned it over 9 times to DAL's 19. Dončić led with 45 (16 of 28, 7 of 10 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); L. James added 27, Hachimura 15. The hinge was Q4, 29-21: a lead of 7 became 15. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
4/11 vs HOU 140-109 — LAL notes
LAL won 140-109. LAL shot 61% (53 of 87) to HOU's 46%, 19 of 37 from three, and went to the line 25 times to HOU's 12 — 15 points from the stripe to their 9. LAL turned it over 12 times to HOU's 18. Dončić led with 39 (13 of 19, 5 of 9 from three, 8 of 14 at the line); Reaves added 23, Finney-Smith 18. The hinge was Q2, 40-24: a lead of 6 became 22, and the lead reached 31. Vincent was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
4/13 @ POR 81-109 — LAL notes
LAL lost 81-109. LAL shot 39% (31 of 80) to POR's 44%, 9 of 28 from three, and got to the line 14 times to POR's 21. LAL turned it over 20 times to POR's 14. The glass went 42-56 against them. Knecht led with 27 (9 of 21, 5 of 12 from three); Milton added 16, Goodwin 12. Q4 was theirs, 20-20, but the other 3 periods went 89-61 against them. Knecht's -28 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/19 vs MIN 95-117 — LAL notes
LAL lost 95-117. LAL shot 40% (33 of 83) to MIN's 51%, 15 of 41 from three, and went to the line 16 times to MIN's 10 — 14 points from the stripe to their 8. Dončić led with 37 (12 of 22, 5 of 10 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); L. James added 19, Reaves 16. Q1 was theirs, 28-21, but the other 3 periods went 96-67 against them. Hachimura's -26 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/22 vs MIN 94-85 — LAL notes
LAL won 94-85. LAL shot 45% (34 of 75) to MIN's 38%, 6 of 29 from three. Dončić led with 31 (9 of 20, 2 of 8 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); James added 21, Reaves 16. The hinge was Q1, 34-15: from level to 19 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
4/25 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 103, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and James at 20 a game. Without Morris (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-6 a night and the Lakers minus-1. Call it Minnesota 112, the Lakers 106.
4/27 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 98, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Randle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 23 a game. Without Morris (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 98 a night to the Lakers' 107 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-2. Call it Minnesota 112, the Lakers 104.
4/30 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morris (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 102, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Minnesota's 10. Call it Minnesota 109, the Lakers 107, the Lakers keeping it close.
4/10 @ MEM 141-125 — MIN notes
MIN won 141-125. MIN shot 55% (48 of 87) to MEM's 52%, 20 of 44 from three, and went to the line 28 times to MEM's 21 — 25 points from the stripe to their 15. Edwards led with 44 (13 of 19, 7 of 11 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Randle added 31, Reid 14. The hinge was Q3, 52-25: MIN came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 22. MIN trailed 67-72 at the half and won the second half 74-53. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
4/11 vs BKN 117-91 — MIN notes
MIN won 117-91. MIN shot 55% (42 of 77) to BKN's 37%, 11 of 31 from three, and went to the line 29 times to BKN's 17 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. Gobert led with 35 (13 of 17, 9 of 14 at the line); Randle added 21, McDaniels 11. The hinge was Q3, 34-21: a lead of 12 became 25, and the lead reached 28. Randle was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/13 vs UTA 116-105 — MIN notes
MIN won 116-105. MIN shot 47% (46 of 98) to UTA's 45%, 13 of 43 from three. The glass went 54-40 for them. Edwards led with 43 (15 of 31, 7 of 18 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Gobert added 19, DiVincenzo 16. The hinge was Q3, 40-28: a lead of 1 became 13, and the lead reached 18. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
4/19 @ LAL 117-95 — MIN notes
MIN won 117-95. MIN shot 51% (44 of 86) to LAL's 40%, 21 of 42 from three, and got to the line 10 times to LAL's 16. McDaniels led with 25 (11 of 13, 3 of 3 from three); Reid added 23, Edwards 22. The hinge was Q2, 38-20: MIN came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 27. McDaniels was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
4/22 @ LAL 85-94 — MIN notes
MIN lost 85-94. MIN shot 38% (30 of 79) to LAL's 45%, 5 of 25 from three. Randle led with 27 (9 of 17, 2 of 4 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Edwards added 25. Q4 was theirs, 20-13, the deficit cut from 16 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 81-65 against them. DiVincenzo's -17 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/25 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 103, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and James at 20 a game. Without Morris (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-6 a night and the Lakers minus-1. Call it Minnesota 112, the Lakers 106.
4/27 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 98, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Randle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 23 a game. Without Morris (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 98 a night to the Lakers' 107 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-2. Call it Minnesota 112, the Lakers 104.
4/30 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morris (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 102, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Minnesota's 10. Call it Minnesota 109, the Lakers 107, the Lakers keeping it close.
5/06 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 100, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Randle at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 5 days' rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 107, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Butler III at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and Golden State minus-4 and the line, where Minnesota takes 24 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Minnesota 111, Golden State 106.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
DF D. Finney-Smith
DO Doncic
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
JM J. McDaniels
JR J. Randle
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
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
Luka scores 31, and the Lakers muscle past the Timberwolves 94-85 to even 1st-round series
LOS ANGELES -- — Rui Hachimura got smacked in the face early in Game 2, and he headed to the Los Angeles Lakers ' locker room with a bleeding nose. He was back on the court just one quarter later wearing a mask, which he discarded shortly afterward because it annoyed him.
The Lakers said they collectively got smacked in the mouth by the blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first-round series opener. Game 2 was all about their response — and LeBron James loved his team's tenacity.
Luka Doncic had 31 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, and the Lakers fought back to even their series with Minnesota with a 94-85 victory Tuesday night.
“We looked at what we didn’t do so well, which is a lot of things in Game 1,” said James, who scored 21 points and made a key steal in the fourth quarter. “We took it to heart, held each other accountable and had a much better result.”
Game 3 is Friday night in Minneapolis.
Austin Reaves added 16 for the third-seeded Lakers, who jumped out to an early 22-point lead and hung on through a physical matchup with sixth-seeded Minnesota.
Los Angeles scored only 60 points in the final three quarters, but the Wolves never got closer than nine points. Coach JJ Redick was proud of his players' response — even if he had to unload on them in the fourth quarter during a profanity-laden timeout to maintain their focus down the stretch.
“I think tonight was just more about getting that urgency button switched back on,” Redick said.
Julius Randle scored 27 points and Anthony Edwards had 25 for the Timberwolves, who lost most of their offensive fluidity from Game 1. Edwards said the Lakers' defensive adjustments made it “kind of hard” on him.
“The way that they’re guarding us, when I catch the ball, they kind of go zone, and when I try to attack a gap, it’s like three people,” Edwards said. “I've just got to make my decisions a little quicker, and we’ll be all right.”
James added 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, who never lost control of a chippy, choppy game with 46 personal fouls and multiple video reviews. James and Hachimura both took hard shots to the face, and Hachimura donned a second mask after halftime.
The Wolves hit 21 3-pointers while blowing out the Lakers 117-95 in Game 1. Los Angeles went up by 19 in the first quarter of Game 2 while Doncic exploited isolations on Rudy Gobert .
“We knew they would come with high intensity, with energy,” Randle said. “We knew it was going to be physical. ... We were stagnant, missed open looks, missed layups. They were just in a rhythm.”