Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers pulled away in the second half to secure a 120-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
As a result, the Lakers and Timberwolves both have a 40-25 overall record this season. The Lakers move ahead of Minnesota for fourth in the Western Conference standings due to a tiebreaker. Los Angeles won all three games in the series this season.
The Lakers have also won six of their last seven games, while the Timberwolves have lost back-to-back games.
The Lakers led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter and 23 in the fourth quarter after the game was initially tied at 45 between the two teams at halftime.
Doncic produced a triple-double with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles. He scored 19 of his 31 points in the second half, while teammate Austin Reaves also added 31.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights for the Lakers-Timberwolves game:
Final: Lakers 120, Timberwolves 106
The Lakers beat the Timberwolves after running away with the game in the second half. The game entered the locker room at halftime tied at 45.
3Q: Lakers 84, Timberwolves 68
The Lakers pulled away from the Timberwolves in the period with 14 points from Luka Doncic.
Doncic nearly produced a triple-double through the first three quarters ofplay with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Anthony Edwards scored 11 points in the third quarter after scoring just three in the first half.
Lakers lead Timberwolves by 13
The Lakers built up a 13-point lead against the Timberwolves with 5:29 left in the third quarter. Austin Reaves scored on a driving layup while he was being fouled by Jaden McDaniels. Reaves made the free throw attempt. Los Angeles leads Minnesota 67-54.
Halftime: Lakers 45, Timberwolves 45
Rui Hachimura scored a 3-pointer with five seconds left in the first half to tie the game. Austin Reeves was credited with the assist. Deandre Ayton has led the way for the Lakers with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Luka Doncic scored eight of his 12 points in the second quarter. He also has six assists and five rebounds.
Julius Randle was the only double-digit scorer for the Timberwolves in the first half. He had 12 points and five rebounds. Anthony Edwards was held to three points and two assists in the first half.
The Lakers have outscored the Timberwolves 28-20 in paint.
Timberwolves lead Lakers late in second quarter
Julius Randle scored on a driving layup to give the Lakers a 39-37 lead with 2:42 left in the first half. Randle has a team-high 10 points for the Timberwolves. Deandre Ayton scored under the basket on the previous play to tie the game at 37 for the Lakers. Ayton leads the Lakers with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
1Q: Timberwolves 21, Lakers 16
Marcus Smart had a team-high 5 points in the first quarter for the Lakers. Luka Doncic had 4 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Doncic was 2-for-10 from the field and 0-for-3 from 3.
Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 6 points in the first quarter. Anthony Edwards had 3 points. He went 1-for-8 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3.
Luka Doncic provides Lakers with first lead of game
Luka Doncic provided the Lakers with their first lead of the game with a driving layup. Lakers lead Timberwolves 7-6 with 5:53 left in the first quarter. The Lakers had a chance to extend that lead moments later, but Deandre Ayton missed a pair of free throws.
Marcus Smart adds Lakers’ first points
Guard Marcus Smart scored the Lakers’ first points of the game with a cutting layup off an assist from Luka Doncic with 7:25 left in the first quarter. The Lakers started the game 0-for-8 before Smart scored. Bothteams were a combined 3-for-21 to start the game.
Timberwolves take early lead vs. Lakers
How to watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves: TV channel, live stream
- Start time: 11 p.m. ET
- Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
- TV Channel: NBC, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
- Live stream: Fubo; Peacock; NBA League Pass (subscription required); Spectrum SportsNet+ (subscription required)
Watch NBA games on Fubo
Lakers without Kleber and Hayes
The Lakers will out both backup centers tonight. Maxi Kleber has been ruled out with a lumbar back strain. Jaxson Hayes was also ruled out with back soreness.
Drew Timme will serve as the backup center for the Lakers tonight.
Bam Adebayo moves ahead of Kobe Bryant
Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced at Crypto.com Arena that Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat moved ahead of Kobe Bryant for the second-highest single-game scoring performance tonight.
Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006.
The announcement was met with boos from the home crowd.
Timberwolves starting lineup vs. Lakers
Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo will make up the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting lineup tonight against the Lakers.
Lakers starting lineup vs. Timberwolves
Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic will make up the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup tonight against the Timberwolves.
Luka Doncic arrives for warmups
Doncic is expected to play tonight for the Lakers. He was on the court for warmups just hours after the report regarding his breakupfromhis fiancée and the potential custody battle that will follow. The couple has two children together.
LeBron James ruled out vs. Timberwolves
LeBron James has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves. James has a right hip and left foot injury. It will be his third straight missed game.
James did participate in a shoot-around at the team’s facility on Tuesday.
‘He still just needs a couple more days,’ Lakers coach JJ Redick said during his pregame media availability. ‘He’s still day-to-day. …’
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch believes the Lakers will start Rui Hachimura, citing that he’s having a career year with his 3-point shot.Finch also stated during his pregame media availability that he expects Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves to continue to make up a bulk of the offense for Los Angeles with James out.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves injury report
(Updated 10:30 p.m. ET on March 9)
Lakers: LeBron James (right hip contusion, left foot arthritis; out)
Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson (right knee soreness; questionable)
Lakers next five games
- March 12 vs. Chicago Bulls
- March 14 vs. Denver Nuggets
- March 16 @ Houston Rockets
- March 18 @ Houston Rockets
- March 19 @ Miami Heat
Lakers vs Timberwolves odds
(Odds according to BetMGM)
- Spread: Timberwolves (-2.5)
- Moneyline: Timberwolves (-125), Lakers (+105)
- Over/under: 233.5