Grading Lakers Players After A Disappointing 87-97 Loss Against Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards scored 23 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 97-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The win marked Minnesota’s fifth in their last six games, maintaining their stronghold over the Lakers at home, where they are now 14-2 against them since the 2015-16 season. Julius Randle added 21 points and Jaden McDaniels contributed 18 as the Timberwolves’ balanced attack overwhelmed Los Angeles. Rudy Gobert anchored the interior with 13 rebounds and 12 points, helping Minnesota control the paint and pace of play.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough to overcome Los Angeles’ struggles. The Lakers committed 21 turnovers and shot just 38.4% from the field, a testament to the Timberwolves’ smothering defense, which has been their hallmark during this recent hot streak. 

The Lakers, playing without LeBron James for the second straight game due to left foot soreness and personal reasons, have now dropped eight of their last 11 games. Austin Reaves provided a spark in his return from injury with 18 points, while Max Christie added 15 off the bench, but Los Angeles struggled to generate consistent offense, averaging just 103.3 points per game over their last 11 contests.

A critical moment came late in the fourth quarter when Mike Conley missed a 3-pointer for Minnesota, only for Rui Hachimura to grab the rebound for the Lakers. Randle stole the ball from Hachimura and quickly set up McDaniels for a layup, extending Minnesota’s lead to 89-82 with just over two minutes remaining. 

Despite shooting just 28.1% from beyond the arc, the Timberwolves’ defensive effort and timely scoring secured the win. Following a disappointing Lakers performance, let’s grade their players. 

Anthony Davis: B+

Stats: 23 PTS, 11 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 3 BLK, 4 TO, 1 PF, 10-21 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-5 FT, -22 +/-, 36 MIN

Anthony Davis was the Lakers’ standout player, leading the team in scoring (23 points) and rebounding (11 boards) while adding three blocks to anchor the defense. However, his impact was limited by turnovers (4) and inefficiency at the free-throw line (2-5). Despite his efforts, he couldn’t fully overcome the Timberwolves’ smothering defense and the absence of LeBron James, as his -22 plus/minus reflects the team’s broader struggles when he was on the court.

Austin Reaves: B

Stats: 18 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 5 PF, 6-16 FG, 4-8 3PT, 2-2 FT, -2 +/-, 30 MIN

Austin Reaves brought energy and scoring off the bench, tallying 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists. He shot a respectable 4-8 from three-point range and was perfect from the free-throw line. However, his overall field-goal percentage (6-16) left room for improvement, and five personal fouls disrupted his rhythm. Despite these issues, Reaves was one of the Lakers’ more consistent contributors in this game.

Max Christie: B

Stats: 15 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 2 PF, 5-9 FG, 2-3 3PT, 3-3 FT, -4 +/-, 37 MIN

Max Christie continued to develop into a reliable rotation player with an efficient 15-point outing on 5-9 shooting. He added five rebounds and a steal while shooting 2-3 from beyond the arc and 3-3 from the free-throw line. Turnovers (4) were a blemish on his performance, but Christie’s offensive contributions provided a much-needed spark on a night when many teammates struggled.

Dalton Knecht: C+

Stats: 6 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-4 FT, -7 +/-, 19 MIN

Dalton Knecht contributed modestly with six points and nine rebounds, showing good effort on the boards. However, his offensive impact was limited, shooting just 2-5 from the field and missing all three of his three-point attempts. Knecht’s overall performance was solid defensively but left something to be desired on the scoring end.

Rui Hachimura: C

Stats: 9 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 4-13 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, -18 +/-, 39 MIN

Rui Hachimura had a tough night offensively, scoring nine points on 4-13 shooting, including 0-2 from three-point range. While he chipped in seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, his inefficiency and three turnovers hindered the Lakers’ ability to build offensive momentum. His -18 plus/minus highlighted his struggles in matching Minnesota’s energy.

Gabe Vincent: C

Stats: 6 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 4 PF, 2-7 FG, 2-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5 +/-, 25 MIN

Gabe Vincent provided six points on 2-7 shooting and made two of his four three-point attempts. He also added two assists and a steal but committed three turnovers and four fouls. His overall contribution was limited, and the Lakers needed more offensive production and steadiness from the starting guard.

Cam Reddish: C

Stats: 5 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 2-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-1 FT, +4 +/-, 23 MIN

Cam Reddish scored five points on 2-5 shooting and contributed defensively with two steals. While his +4 plus/minus was a bright spot, he struggled to make a meaningful impact offensively, going 0-3 from three-point range. His performance was serviceable but lacked the consistency needed to help the Lakers overcome Minnesota’s defense.

D’Angelo Russell: C

Stats: 5 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 3 PF, 2-10 FG, 1-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, -8 +/-, 20 MIN

D’Angelo Russell had a disappointing outing, managing just five points on 2-10 shooting, including a poor 1-7 from three-point range. He contributed four rebounds and an assist but was unable to find his rhythm offensively. His struggles were emblematic of the Lakers’ broader shooting woes, and his -8 plus/minus reflected his inability to generate offense effectively.

Christian Koloko: C

Stats: 0 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +12 +/-, 12 MIN

Christian Koloko went scoreless in his 12 minutes but contributed six rebounds, a steal, and three blocks, showcasing his defensive presence. While he didn’t take any shots, his +12 plus/minus was the best on the team, highlighting his impact in limited minutes. Koloko’s defensive effort was commendable, though his offensive contributions were non-existent.

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