In an exciting and physical match, the Timberwolves of Minnesota beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-113 in a dramatic victory back, carrying their series advance at 3-1. Timberwolves were led by a 43-point stellar performance by Star goalkeeper Anthony Edwards, while Luka Dončić was not sufficient to give the Lakers victory.
The JJ Redick made the unusual choice not to replace the whole second half – a choice that probably contributed to the narrow loss of the Lakers. The game arrived in the course, but a successful challenge of Minnesota in the last seconds ended up sealing the return of the Timberwolves.
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Although the Lakers had a thin advance during most of the first half, Minnesota began to go up halfway. Julius Randle then finished half-time with an exclamation point, hitting a big three points to give Timberwolves advance the half-time. Randle finished the match with 25 points after an incredible first half of 21 points.
The Lakers opened the second half with a hot wild sequence, running a 14-0 race and soothing the crowd of Minnesota. But the Timberwolves began to grow back, fed by a second stellar half of Edwards. A large open three of Naz Reid with four remaining minutes passed the Minnesota in two points, turning the trend for the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves drew two possessions with two minutes to play after a huge and one Donte Divincenzo, but the three points by Austin Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith removed the Lakers back. Then, in the last minute, Reaves trampled on striker Timberwolves Jaden McDaniels for an opportunity and an opportunity, winning his fifth fault and giving McDaniels the possibility of taking an advance of a point.
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With less than 10 seconds to play, James slapped the ball from Edwards for a turnover, leading to a Défi du Minnesota and a long review. An aerial video angle clearly indicated that James was in contact with Edwards' wrist, which caused a fault. Edwards struck the two free throws, giving Timberwolves a three -point lead.
Reaves had a chance to set three, but he rebounded in the basket. The Minnesota won the 116-113 victory, sending a tired house disappointed by the team with a deficit of 3-1.
Redick said that after making the decision to underwater at halftime, keeping the range of five men from James, Dončić, Reaves, Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura intact for the second half.
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“We have certainly played well enough to win and we have given the effort to win. It is not a thing planned to play five guys (for) a second half,” said Redick. “(I) asked them at the beginning of the fourth quarter, told them that we had two additional deadlines, if you need a sub-us, these guys.”
When asked if he was worried about outcaping the players, Redick said he trusted them to talk if they needed to go out. “Once you have somehow made this decision and they are all in it, you just have to trust them,” he said.
The two teams managed to stay healthy in the face of a very physical battle. Most players found themselves on the ground at one time or another, including several collisions while diving for the ball, and a moment near the end of the first half when it seemed that Edwards had injured his left knee.
Now, the two teams will return to Los Angeles with regard to another exciting match – and Scrappy -.
