Game ID: 22400318
Los Angeles Lakers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Monday, December 2, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 22 34 23 30 109LAL 20 24 20 16 80
LAL @ MIN ScoutingLAL @ 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.
MIN availability going into 11/24 · 2 days' restBACK Dillingham back 11/13 after 2, 7 min since (68% of 10)
NEW Conley 25 to 30 min over the last 3
MIN availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 2 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 11/13 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
MIN availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Conley missed 3 since 11/21, returns tonight: 32 min (130% of 25)
NEW Gobert 32 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Conley back 11/27 after 3, 32 min since (130% of 25)
NEW Gobert 32 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/02 · 2 days' restOUT Clark missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Conley back 11/27 after 3, 33 min since (132% of 25)
NEW Gobert 32 to 39 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 2 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Conley back 11/27 after 3, 29 min since (119% of 25)
NEW Gobert 32 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/06 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 3 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Conley back 11/27 after 3, 27 min since (109% of 25)
MIN availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 4 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Conley back 11/27 after 3, 27 min since (109% of 25)
MIN availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Clark missed 7 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 5 since 11/29, returns tonight: 8 min (74% of 10)
LAL availability going into 11/26 · 2 days' restOUT Hayes missed 6 since 11/13, returns tonight: 17 min (90% of 19)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 10 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 11/23 after 4, 22 min since (70% of 32)
NEW Knecht 19 to 34 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Vanderbilt missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 11/23 after 4, 23 min since (71% of 32)
BACK Hayes back 11/26 after 6, 17 min since (90% of 19)
NEW Knecht 19 to 32 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 11/23 after 4, 24 min since (74% of 32)
BACK Hayes back 11/26 after 6, 17 min since (90% of 19)
NEW Knecht 19 to 31 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 2 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 13 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 11/23 after 4, 25 min since (79% of 32)
NEW Knecht 19 to 30 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Hayes missed 3 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 14 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 11/23 after 4, 28 min since (89% of 32)
NEW Knecht 19 to 28 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 2 since 12/01, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 4 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 15 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Knecht 19 to 28 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/06 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 3 since 12/01, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 5 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 16 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Knecht 19 to 29 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 4 since 12/01, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 6 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 17 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Knecht 19 to 28 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Reaves missed 5 since 12/01, returns tonight: 30 min (84% of 35)
OUT Hayes missed 7 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 18 since 11/04, out tonight
NEW Vincent 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Knecht 19 to 26 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Randle at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Davis at 21 and James at 18 a game. Without Hayes (3 straight), Vanderbilt (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-2 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 12. Call it Minnesota 112, the Lakers 108, the Lakers keeping it close.
11/24 @ BOS 105-107 — MIN notes
MIN lost 105-107. MIN shot 42% (37 of 88) to BOS's 43%, 15 of 41 from three, and went to the line 21 times to BOS's 15 — 16 points from the stripe to their 12. Edwards led with 28 (9 of 21, 6 of 11 from three); Randle added 23, Dillingham 14. Q4 was theirs, 32-23, the deficit cut from 11 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 84-73 against them. McDaniels's -12 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 vs HOU 111-117 — MIN notes
MIN lost 111-117 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 43% (42 of 98) to HOU's 45%, 9 of 38 from three, and went to the line 20 times to HOU's 13 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. MIN turned it over 17 times to HOU's 10, and HOU turned those into 12 steals. Edwards led with 29 (8 of 22, 3 of 12 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Randle added 21, Reid 19. Q4 was theirs, 24-18, the deficit cut from 6 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 99-87 against them.
11/27 vs SAC 104-115 — MIN notes
MIN lost 104-115. MIN shot 45% (33 of 74) to SAC's 49%, 14 of 39 from three, and went to the line 27 times to SAC's 15 — 24 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 33-47 against them. Edwards led with 29 (9 of 24, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Randle added 21, Alexander-Walker 17. Q3 was theirs, 29-12, turning a 12-point deficit into a 5-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 103-75 against them. They led by as many as 12. Conley's -11 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/29 vs LAC 93-92 — MIN notes
MIN won 93-92. MIN shot 41% (31 of 75) to LAC's 43%, 15 of 39 from three, and went to the line 20 times to LAC's 13 — 16 points from the stripe to their 10. MIN turned it over 21 times to LAC's 15, and LAC turned those into 17 steals. The glass went 49-39 for them. Edwards led with 21 (7 of 21, 4 of 9 from three); Conley added 13, Alexander-Walker 12. The hinge was Q2, 27-22: a lead of 1 became 6.
12/02 vs LAL 109-80 — MIN notes
MIN won 109-80. MIN shot 51% (41 of 81) to LAL's 41%, 15 of 35 from three. MIN turned it over 15 times to LAL's 20. Randle led with 18 (6 of 13, 2 of 3 from three); Gobert added 17, Reid 15. The hinge was Q4, 30-16: a lead of 15 became 29. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/04 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Harden at 29 and Zubac at 14 a game. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 102, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 23 and Randle at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 40 percent from three to Minnesota's 35 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 102 a night to the Clippers' 108. Call it the Clippers 109, Minnesota 107, Minnesota keeping it close.
12/06 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Kuminga at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Green (2 straight), Waters III (2 straight), Post (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 97, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 21 and Randle at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 97 a night to Golden State's 112 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to Golden State's 12. Call it Minnesota 109, Golden State 107, Golden State keeping it close.
12/08 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 107, shooting 41 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Kuminga at 19 a game. Without Post (10 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 91, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Edwards at 21 and Randle at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 91 a night to Golden State's 107 and the arc, Minnesota at 37 percent from three to Golden State's 32. Call it Minnesota 106, Golden State 105, Golden State keeping it close.
12/13 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 105 a night and allowing 91, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Edwards at 20 and Randle at 16 a game. 4 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Reaves (5 straight), Hayes (7 straight), Vanderbilt (18 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 91 a night to the Lakers' 116 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-8. Call it Minnesota 113, the Lakers 102, Minnesota by 11.
11/26 @ PHX 100-127 — LAL notes
LAL lost 100-127. LAL shot 44% (37 of 85) to PHX's 52%, 8 of 34 from three, and went to the line 25 times to PHX's 10 — 18 points from the stripe to their 8. Davis led with 25 (10 of 19, 5 of 7 at the line); James added 18, Russell 16. Q2 was theirs, 35-31, the deficit cut from 6 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 96-65 against them. James's -30 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/27 @ SAS 119-101 — LAL notes
LAL won 119-101. LAL shot 53% (48 of 90) to SAS's 42%, 13 of 34 from three, and got to the line 10 times to SAS's 16. Knecht led with 20 (8 of 15, 4 of 10 from three); Davis added 19, Russell 17. The hinge was Q1, 32-23: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Russell was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
11/29 vs OKC 93-101 — LAL notes
LAL lost 93-101. LAL shot 45% (33 of 73) to OKC's 41%, 11 of 38 from three. LAL turned it over 17 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 12 steals. Knecht led with 20 (7 of 17, 6 of 13 from three); Russell added 17, Davis 15. Q2 was theirs, 24-19, the deficit cut from 8 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 82-69 against them. James's -12 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/01 @ UTA 105-104 — LAL notes
LAL won 105-104. LAL shot 44% (39 of 88) to UTA's 51%, 7 of 33 from three, and went to the line 25 times to UTA's 16 — 20 points from the stripe to their 10. LAL turned it over 5 times to UTA's 15. Davis led with 33 (13 of 25, 2 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); James added 27, Hachimura 13. The hinge was Q2, 32-29: LAL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 2. Hood-Schifino was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/02 @ MIN 80-109 — LAL notes
LAL lost 80-109. LAL shot 41% (32 of 79) to MIN's 51%, 6 of 31 from three. LAL turned it over 20 times to MIN's 15, and MIN turned those into 11 steals. Russell led with 20 (8 of 12, 4 of 5 from three); Davis added 12, James 10. Q1 was theirs, 20-22, but the other 3 periods went 87-60 against them. James's -28 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/04 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Herro at 24 and Butler III at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jović (5 straight), Ware (3 straight), Richardson (6 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 26 from three, 19 free throws a game; Davis at 21 and Russell at 18 a game. Without Reaves (2 straight), Hayes (4 straight), Vanderbilt (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 35 percent from three to the Lakers' 26 and the glass, where the Lakers have been minus-0 a night and Miami minus-5. Call it Miami 111, the Lakers 106.
12/06 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Hunter at 22 and Johnson at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Krejčí (2 straight), Nance Jr. (9 straight), Mathews (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 27 from three, 18 free throws a game; James at 19 and Davis at 17 a game. Without Reaves (3 straight), Hayes (5 straight), Vanderbilt (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-10 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the arc, Atlanta at 35 percent from three to the Lakers' 27. Call it Atlanta 117, the Lakers 108.
12/08 vs POR — 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 101 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 19 free throws a game; James at 23 and Davis at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Reaves (4 straight), Hayes (6 straight), Vanderbilt (17 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 126, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Simons at 20 and Ayton at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Henderson (4 straight), Thybulle (23 straight), Clingan (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Portland at 39 percent from three to the Lakers' 28 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 116 a night to Portland's 126. Call it the Lakers 115, Portland 112, Portland keeping it close.
12/13 @ 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 105 a night and allowing 91, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Edwards at 20 and Randle at 16 a game. 4 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Reaves (5 straight), Hayes (7 straight), Vanderbilt (18 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 91 a night to the Lakers' 116 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-8. Call it Minnesota 113, the Lakers 102, Minnesota by 11.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DD D. DiVincenzo
DN D. Nix
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. Minott
JR J. Randle
LG L. Garza
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
PD P. Dozier
RG R. Gobert
TS T. Shannon Jr.
LALAD A. Davis
AT A. Traoré
CK C. Koloko
CR C. Reddish
DK D. Knecht
DR D. Russell
GV G. Vincent
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
ML M. Lewis
RH R. Hachimura
MIN/LAL 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
Timberwolves blow out Lakers 109-80 behind Randle, Gobert and tough defense
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Julius Randle scored 18 points and Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Los Angeles Lakers 109-80 on Monday night.
Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 15 for the Wolves (10-10), who limited the Lakers to their lowest point total since a 122-73 loss at Dallas in 2017, according to Sportradar.
Anthony Edwards had only eight points on 3-for-13 shooting for the Wolves, but his Olympic teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis were just as quiet for the Lakers (12-9).
James, who has missed 19 straight 3-pointers, had 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting. Davis had 12 points and 11 rebounds. D’Angelo Russell scored 20 in his return from illness and to the starting lineup.
After beating Utah 105-104 on Sunday, the Lakers traveled another time zone east to face a team they beat 110-103 in the season opener behind 36 points and 16 rebounds from Davis.
Takeaways Lakers: Rookie coach J.J. Redick assessed his team at the quarter mark of the season “uneven and inconsistent." The Lakers' fifth loss in their last seven games didn't even clear that bar.
Timberwolves: With the defense locked in, Minnesota's other priorities are reviving its transition game and 3-point shooting. Both boxes were checked. The Timberwolves went 15 for 35 from deep and had 20 fast-break points.
Key moment Gobert, the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was plenty disruptive against Davis and the Lakers. Gobert stole an inbounds pass from Max Christie for a rare fast-break dunk late in the third.
Key stat The Wolves held their opponent under 100 points for the second straight game and fourth this season. In 2023-24, when they led the league in scoring defense, they held opponents to double digits 23 times.
Up next The Lakers play at the Miami Heat on Wednesday, when the Wolves visit the Los Angeles Clippers.