The Minnesota Timberwolves faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 28, 2025, at the Lakers' home arena, showcasing the later stages of the NBA season as teams vie for playoff positioning. The Lakers entered the game with notable changes to their lineup, missing key players such as Anthony Davis and Max Christie from their last encounter. Defensively, the Timberwolves were without their star players Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, but did welcome back Donte DiVincenzo from injury.
From the opening moments, the game presented itself as competitive. Austin Reaves opened the scoring with a deep three-pointer, but quickly, rookie J. Clark of the Timberwolves responded. Reaves, who had difficulty finding his rhythm, eventually ended the first half with only this single three-pointer and three early fouls.
The Timberwolves struggled defensively, leaning heavily on outside shooting since the Lakers' defense collapsed their interior advantages. They attempted 70% of their shots from beyond the arc, but with disappointing accuracy. By the end of the first quarter, the Lakers had gained control with a commanding 33 to 17 lead.
Though the Timberwolves closed the gap, leveraging Terrence Shannon Jr.'s contributions, including several three-pointers, their scattered scoring efforts meant they trailed significantly at halftime. While Anthony Edwards emerged as the main target for scoring, the Lakers' cohesive play saw them combine for 32 points between LeBron James and Doncic before the half ended.
Entering the third quarter, Reaves and the Lakers pushed the tempo. He set up Rui Hachimura, prior to suffering another setback when Hachimura exited the game due to injury. Subsequently, the Timberwolves faced another blow when Edwards was penalized for his second technical foul, leaving Minnesota without its top scorer for the remainder of the game.
Interestingly, the Timberwolves seemingly responded well without Edwards, ending the third quarter with renewed vigor as they trimmed the deficit to just 11 points, showing resilience against the Lakers' continued pressure.
During the fourth quarter, the tides seemed to shift as the Timberwolves managed to capitalize on several free throw opportunities, completing an 11-0 run and narrowing the Lakers' lead to just four points. Both teams increased their intensity, which led to confusion and frequent fouls.
The game drew to its climax when Doncic, known for his clutch capabilities, hit pivotal shots to maintain the Lakers' lead. Despite shooting only 69.6% from the free-throw line, the Lakers secured the game 111-102, surviving the Timberwolves' late charge.
Post-game analysis indicated the Timberwolves remain situated at eighth place within the Western Conference, perilously close to teams vying for playoff spots, showcasing the intensified stakes leading up to the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Lakers moved to fourth place, just nudging past the Rockets and bolstering their position with upcoming matches against tough opponents.