On December 14, Beijing time, the Lakers lost to the Timberwolves 87-97 away, James continued to be absent, with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Reaves scored 18 points after returning from injury for 5 games. The Lakers never led in this game, and the Timberwolves led the Lakers by as many as 17 points, and the Lakers narrowed the gap in the final quarter, but still lost. The two teams have met three times this season, with the Timberwolves winning two and losing one. Edwards scored 23 points and was injured in the third quarter before returning to the court in the final quarter.

Statistics

Lakers: Thick eyebrows 23 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks, Reaves 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, Christie 15 points and 5 rebounds, Hachimura 9 points and 7 rebounds, Kneckt 6 points and 9 rebounds, Vincent 6 points

Timberwolves: Edwards 23 points and 6 rebounds, Randle 21 points and 5 rebounds, McDaniels 18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocks, Gobert 12 points and 13 rebounds, Reed 10 points and 5 rebounds, Conley 2 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists

The star of the game

McDaniels was both offensive and defensive, contributing 18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocks to help the Timberwolves win.

Match injuries

With more than 2 minutes left in the third quarter, Edwards suddenly fell with the ball and injured his left foot without confrontation and returned to the locker room for treatment. He also threw away the towel in frustration. With 6:53 left in the fourth quarter, Edwards returned to the court to continue playing.

Game recap

In the first quarter, Randle, Edwards, and McDaniels scored consecutive points, and the Timberwolves played a 6-0 start. Christie scored the Lakers' top five points, and Edwards and McDaniels responded with two three-pointers. Thick eyebrows scored two goals in a row from mid-range, Gobert scored a layup, and Reed hit another three-pointer. Edwards received a technical foul, but the Timberwolves continued to attack, Randle scored four straight points, DiVincenzo hit a three-pointer, and the Timberwolves had a 14-point lead. Reddish hit 2+1, Reaves hit two free throws, and the first quarter ended, the Timberwolves led the Lakers 32-23, and the Lakers made 10 turnovers in a single quarter.

In the second quarter, the Lakers' defensive intensity escalated, the Timberwolves scored only 1 point on 0 of 12 in the first half of the quarter, Reaves scored consecutive breakthroughs, and Knecht and Hachimura also contributed, and the Lakers narrowed the gap to 2 points. McDaniels made a 2+1 layup to break the Timberwolves' scoring drought. Thick eyebrows scored on a mid-range shot, and Hachimura dunked. Kneckett hit just one of three free throws, McDaniels and Reaves exchanged three-pointers, and the Timberwolves led the Lakers 50-44 at halftime.

In the first half, the Lakers only had thick eyebrows scoring double-doubles, he scored 14 points and 4 rebounds, and Reaves had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. The Timberwolves scored in double figures, with Randle scoring 15 points and McDaniels 13 points and three rebounds. Edwards had seven points and three rebounds.

Reaves and Vincent hit three-point shots, Edwards scored 4 points in a row, Randle, Gobert, and McDaniels also hit one after another, Russell hit a shot, Gobert dunked in the air, and the Timberwolves led by 17 points. Edwards scored on a mid-range shot, and Edwards fell without a fight and returned to the locker room for treatment. Thick eyebrows scored on a layup, Christie scored 2+1, and Reed and Dillingham hit three points in a row. At the end of the third quarter, the Timberwolves led the Lakers 77-66.

In the final quarter, Reaves and Dillingham exchanged three points, Vincent also hit a three-pointer, and the Lakers narrowed the gap to 5 points. Alexander Walker scored on an empty pick, Edwards returned to the court, scored on a mid-range shot, and Hachimura scored on a dunk. Gobert scored under the basket. Bushy eyebrows hit a three-point shot, and McDaniels also scored under the basket. Russell missed back-to-back long-range shots, and the Timberwolves extended the margin to double digits. Christie hit a three-pointer, but he was out of luck. In the end, the Timberwolves beat the Lakers at home.

Both sides start

Lakers: Vincent, Reaves, Christie, Hachimura, Bushy Eyebrows

Timberwolves: Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Randle, Gobert