Timberwolves Triumph Over Lakers in Reid’s Stellar 31-Point Showcase
Naz Reid delivered a standout performance with six 3-pointers and a total of 31 points, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 127-117 win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. The Timberwolves took advantage of the absence of LeBron James due to illness and an early exit by Anthony Davis due to an eye injury.
Anthony Edwards contributed 26 points to the Timberwolves’ effort, helping the team match the Denver Nuggets at the top of the Western Conference with a record of 54-24 after securing their seventh victory in nine games. The Timberwolves seized the moment against a Lakers team missing its key players for most of the game.
James was sidelined with flu-like symptoms, marking his 11th game missed in his 21st NBA season. Davis was forced to leave the game in the first quarter after an accidental hit to the face by Kyle Anderson, exacerbating a previous injury to his left eye from a game last month against Golden State.
Minnesota’s coach Chris Finch acknowledged the stroke of luck, “Obviously, we caught a break there.”
With Davis out, the Timberwolves dominated the second quarter with 46 points, expanding their lead significantly. Despite efforts from the Lakers’ bench to close the gap in the third quarter, Rudy Gobert’s 18 points, including crucial baskets in the fourth quarter, and his 16 rebounds, ensured Minnesota’s victory.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 15 points, praised the team’s offensive execution, attributing their success to exploiting the Lakers’ compromised defense. The Timberwolves are now eyeing the No. 1 seed in the West, a position they’ve only held once before in franchise history. They look forward to a critical matchup against the Nuggets in Denver.
Rui Hachimura led the Lakers with 30 points, but the loss halted their four-game winning streak and pushed them back to ninth place in the competitive Western Conference standings. Lakers coach Darvin Ham commended his team’s resilience despite the setbacks.
Jaxson Hayes stepped up in Davis’ absence with a season-high 19 points and 10 assists, while Spencer Dinwiddie added 18 points. D’Angelo Russell, however, had a tough night, missing several shots crucial for the Lakers’ attempt to bridge the gap.
Reid, who also secured 11 rebounds, joked about his impressive performance against the Lakers, saying, “I just stand out in the lights. I’m sorry. I don’t know. I just go out there and compete, and it just happened to be on TV.”
The Lakers also missed Gabe Vincent, their backup point guard, who recently returned from an injury.
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