The Minnesota Timberwolves showcased a dominant defensive performance in their 109-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, holding their opponent to its lowest scoring output in years. Julius Randle led the Wolves with 18 points, while Rudy Gobert added 17 points, 12 rebounds, and key defensive plays that disrupted the Lakers’ offensive flow.
Despite an off night from Anthony Edwards, who managed just eight points on 3-for-13 shooting, The Timberwolves’ depth compensated with Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributing 15 points each. The Wolves capitalized on their defensive intensity, scoring 20 fast-break points and shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc (15-for-35).
The Lakers, coming off a narrow victory over Utah the night before, looked fatigued and out of sync. LeBron James continued his shooting struggles, finishing with just 10 points on 4-for-16 shooting, including 0-for-4 from three, extending his streak of missed 3-pointers to 19. Anthony Davis recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds but was neutralized by Gobert, who disrupted numerous possessions.
D’Angelo Russell, returning to the starting lineup after illness, was a rare bright spot for Los Angeles with 20 points. However, the Lakers were undone by 20 turnovers and a lack of energy against a relentless Minnesota defense.
Minnesota set the tone early, building a double-digit lead and maintaining control throughout. For the Lakers, now 12-9, the game served as a stark reminder of the work needed to find consistency and rhythm as the season progresses. Let’s grade the Lakers players after a rather putrid performance.
D’Angelo Russell: B+
Stats: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 8-12 FG, 4-5 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 34 mins
D’Angelo Russell was the lone bright spot for the Lakers in an otherwise dismal showing. He scored efficiently, hitting 8-of-12 shots and 4-of-5 from deep, and added 5 assists. Despite a few turnovers and lapses on defense, his offensive contributions kept the Lakers from an even larger blowout.
Anthony Davis: C+
Stats: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-14 FG, 0-2 3PT FG, 4-4 FT, 33 mins
Anthony Davis recorded a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) but struggled mightily against Rudy Gobert’s interior defense. His 4-of-14 shooting highlighted his inefficiency, and while he made all his free throws and contributed 5 assists, his overall impact was muted in a game where the Lakers desperately needed him to dominate.
Rui Hachimura: C+
Stats: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 4-5 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 29 mins
Rui Hachimura was efficient offensively (4-of-5 FG) and added 10 points with 4 rebounds and 2 assists. His two steals added defensive value, but he didn’t assert himself enough offensively or defensively to make a significant impact.
LeBron James: C
Stats: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 6 turnovers, 1 foul, 4-16 FG, 0-4 3PT FG, 2-4 FT, 31 mins
LeBron had a rough night, scoring just 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting, extending his poor shooting streak from deep (0-of-4). His 6 turnovers were costly, and though he grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 4 assists, his energy and decision-making were below his usual standard.
Dalton Knecht: C
Stats: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 3-8 FG, 0-5 3PT FG, 0-2 FT, 28 mins
Dalton Knecht contributed 6 points on 3-of-8 shooting, but his 0-of-5 mark from three hurt the Lakers’ spacing. He added 3 rebounds but was mostly invisible in stretches, unable to provide the offensive spark the team needed.
Gabe Vincent: C
Stats: 5 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 2 fouls, 2-5 FG, 1-4 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 22 mins
Vincent scored just 5 points on 2-of-5 shooting, including 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. He made two timely steals but failed to impact the game meaningfully on offense or in playmaking.
Max Christie: C
Stats: 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers, 0 fouls, 2-9 FG, 1-7 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 21 mins
Christie had a rough night shooting, finishing 2-of-9 from the field and 1-of-7 from three. He contributed 5 points, 2 rebounds, and an assist, but his inefficiency on a night when the team needed scoring was glaring.
Armel Traore: C
Stats: 4 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 2-4 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 15 mins
Traore showed flashes with 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting, adding 3 rebounds, a steal, and a block in limited minutes. However, his turnovers and fouls reflected his inexperience, and he struggled to stay impactful against Minnesota’s physicality.
Cam Reddish: C
Stats: 2 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 1 foul, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 11 mins
Cam Reddish played just 11 minutes and scored 2 points on free throws, missing his only field-goal attempt. While he contributed a steal, his lack of involvement offensively limited his grade.
Maxwell Lewis: N/A
Stats: 4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 0 fouls, 2-3 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 8 mins
In limited action, Lewis scored 4 points on 2-of-3 shooting and added 2 assists and a steal. His energy was a small bright spot, but his minutes were too few for a full evaluation.
Christian Koloko: N/A
Stats: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 8 mins
Christian Koloko managed 2 points and 2 rebounds in 8 minutes. Like Lewis, he played limited minutes and couldn’t contribute much to a struggling Lakers squad.
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