Game ID: 22401210
Los Angeles Lakers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, December 13, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 32 18 27 20 97LAL 23 21 22 21 87
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 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)
MIN availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 12/13 after 5, 8 min since (74% of 10)
MIN availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Clark missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 12/13 after 5, 8 min since (83% of 10)
MIN availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 12/13 after 5, 11 min since (109% of 10)
MIN availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 12/13 after 5, 11 min since (109% of 10)
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
LAL availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 2 since 12/08, returns tonight: 34 min (96% of 35)
OUT Hayes missed 8 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 19 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 30 min since (84% of 35)
NEW Vincent 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Knecht 19 to 24 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Hayes missed 9 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 20 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 34 min since (96% of 35)
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 33 min since (93% of 35)
LAL availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 10 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 21 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 34 min since (96% of 35)
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 33 min since (95% of 35)
NEW Hachimura 32 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Christie 25 to 30 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 11 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 22 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 34 min since (97% of 35)
NEW Hachimura 32 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.
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.
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 108-80 — MIN notes
MIN won 108-80. MIN shot 48% (41 of 85) to LAC's 35%, 16 of 44 from three. MIN turned it over 14 times to LAC's 21. Randle led with 20 (8 of 16, 4 of 9 from three); Edwards added 16, Minott 13. The hinge was Q1, 33-14: from level to 19 ahead, and the lead reached 41. Randle was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
12/06 @ GSW 107-90 — MIN notes
MIN won 107-90. MIN shot 45% (40 of 88) to GSW's 39%, 14 of 42 from three. MIN turned it over 17 times to GSW's 22. Edwards led with 30 (11 of 18, 4 of 10 from three); Gobert added 17, Randle 16. The hinge was Q4, 29-18: a lead of 6 became 17, and the lead reached 23. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/08 @ GSW 106-114 — MIN notes
MIN lost 106-114. MIN shot 46% (36 of 79) to GSW's 47%, 19 of 42 from three. Edwards led with 27 (10 of 19, 5 of 9 from three); Alexander-Walker added 19, Randle 14. Q1 was theirs, 30-21, but the other 3 periods went 93-76 against them. They led by as many as 12. Gobert's -12 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 vs LAL 97-87 — MIN notes
MIN won 97-87. MIN shot 40% (35 of 87) to LAL's 38%, 9 of 32 from three, and went to the line 24 times to LAL's 17 — 18 points from the stripe to their 11. MIN turned it over 13 times to LAL's 21. Edwards led with 23 (9 of 20, 2 of 7 from three); Randle added 21, McDaniels 18. The hinge was Q1, 32-23: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/15 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 28 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Vassell at 18 a game. Without Jones (5 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 90, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Edwards at 21 and Randle at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 90 a night to San Antonio's 123 and the line, where San Antonio takes 28 free throws a game to Minnesota's 18. Call it Minnesota 111, San Antonio 107, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/19 vs NYK — 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 93, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Edwards at 24 and Randle at 16 a game. 3 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Towns at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 3 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 93 a night to New York's 106 and the line, where New York takes 25 free throws a game to Minnesota's 18. Call it Minnesota 109, New York 105, New York keeping it close.
12/21 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 103, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Randle at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Curry at 20 and Wiggins at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Moody (3 straight), Post (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 103 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it Minnesota 112, Golden State 106.
12/23 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Young at 24 and Hunter at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Okongwu (2 straight), Gueye (21 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 22 and Randle at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Minnesota minus-6 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 108 a night to Atlanta's 122. Call it Minnesota 113, Atlanta 112, Atlanta keeping it close.
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 93-134 — LAL notes
LAL lost 93-134. LAL shot 42% (37 of 88) to MIA's 58%, 5 of 22 from three, and went to the line 19 times to MIA's 9 — 14 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 36-52 against them. James led with 29 (12 of 18, 1 of 4 from three); Hachimura added 14, Russell 12. Q1 was theirs, 26-34, but the other 3 periods went 100-67 against them. Davis's -29 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ ATL 132-134 — LAL notes
LAL lost 132-134 in 1 overtime. LAL shot 52% (51 of 99) to ATL's 50%, 16 of 35 from three, and got to the line 16 times to ATL's 22. James led with 39 (14 of 25, 6 of 11 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Davis added 38, Knecht 14. Q1 was theirs, 29-26, but the other 4 periods went 108-103 against them. They led by as many as 11.
12/08 vs POR 107-98 — LAL notes
LAL won 107-98. LAL shot 46% (38 of 83) to POR's 42%, 13 of 34 from three. LAL turned it over 11 times to POR's 17. Davis led with 30 (10 of 21, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Russell added 28, Hachimura 23. The hinge was Q2, 37-17: LAL came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 14, and the lead reached 20. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
12/13 @ MIN 87-97 — LAL notes
LAL lost 87-97. LAL shot 38% (33 of 86) to MIN's 40%, 10 of 35 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIN's 24. LAL turned it over 21 times to MIN's 13, and MIN turned those into 12 steals. Davis led with 23 (10 of 21, 1 of 5 from three); Reaves added 18, Christie 15. Q2 was theirs, 21-18, the deficit cut from 9 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 79-66 against them. Davis's -22 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 vs MEM — 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 100 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 22 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without James (2 straight), Hayes (8 straight), Vanderbilt (19 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Morant at 25 and Jackson Jr. at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Kennard (4 straight), Edey (12 straight), Williams Jr. (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 39 percent from three to the Lakers' 32 and the glass, where Memphis has been minus-1 a night and the Lakers minus-6. Call it Memphis 118, the Lakers 112.
12/19 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sabonis at 24 and DeRozan at 23 a game. Without Lyles (9 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 29 and Davis at 28 a game. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Hayes (9 straight), Vanderbilt (20 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 16 times a game to Sacramento's 11 and the glass, where Sacramento has been minus-0 a night and the Lakers minus-7. Call it Sacramento 119, the Lakers 110.
12/21 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sabonis at 24 and Fox at 23 a game. Without Lyles (10 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 30 and James at 25 a game. Without Hayes (10 straight), Vanderbilt (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 15 times a game to Sacramento's 11 and the arc, Sacramento at 41 percent from three to the Lakers' 36. Call it Sacramento 117, the Lakers 111.
12/23 vs DET — 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 105 a night and allowing 101, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 25 and James at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Hayes (11 straight), Vanderbilt (22 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Beasley at 20 a game. Without Stewart (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to Detroit's 122 and the arc, Detroit at 39 percent from three to the Lakers' 32. Call it the Lakers 114, Detroit 111, Detroit keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DD D. DiVincenzo
JM J. McDaniels
JR J. Randle
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RD R. Dillingham
RG R. Gobert
LALAD A. Davis
AR A. Reaves
CK C. Koloko
CR C. Reddish
DK D. Knecht
DR D. Russell
GV G. Vincent
MC M. Christie
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 beat Lakers without LeBron James 97-87 with another defensive showing
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Anthony Edwards scored 23 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 97-87 on Friday night.
Julius Randle added 21 points and Jaden McDaniels scored 18 for Minnesota, which won for the fifth time in six games. Rudy Gobert had a game-high 13 rebounds to go with 12 points.
The Timberwolves are 14-2 against the Lakers at home since the 2015-16 season, including four straight wins.
Anthony Davis led Los Angeles with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but the Lakers lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Austin Reaves scored 18 points in his first game back after missing five games with a left pelvic contusion, and Max Christie added 15.
Los Angeles had 21 turnovers.
LeBron James missed his second straight game for the Lakers with left foot soreness and was also was away from the team this week due to “personal reasons.” Coach JJ Redick said pregame he has no sense of when James will return.
Takeaways Lakers: In its past 11 games, Los Angeles is averaging 103.3 points, while allowing its opponents to score an average of 113.7 points.
Timberwolves: Defense had been Minnesota’s forte during its recent success. Los Angeles shot just 38.4%, the third time in four games a Timberwolves foe failed to reach 40%. In Minnesota’s past five wins, no opponent has topped 92 points.
Key moment Mike Conley missed a 3-pointer for Minnesota and Rui Hachimura got the rebound for Los Angeles. However, he had the ball stolen by Randle who quickly fed McDaniels for a layup and an 89-82 lead with 2:03 left.
Key stat Averaging 37.5% from deep, Minnesota was just 9 for 32 (28.1%) from 3. The Lakers were 10 of 35 (28.6%) on long-range shooting.
Up next The Lakers are home against the Grizzlies and the Timberwolves head to the Spurs on Sunday.