The Minnesota Timberwolves have stepped up their game at just the right time. After a regular season full of inconsistencies, they now find themselves one win away from advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
On Sunday, Jaden McDaniels made a pivotal three-point play with 39.5 seconds remaining, giving Minnesota the lead and then immediately stealing the inbounds pass from LeBron James. That sequence helped seal a dramatic 116-113 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, pushing the Timberwolves to a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 43 points, asserting himself as the offensive engine for Minnesota. He later drew a critical foul on James with just 10 seconds left and calmly knocked down both free throws.
The Lakers had one last opportunity. With both LeBron and Luka Doncic well-defended beyond the arc, the ball ended up in Austin Reaves’ hands in the corner—but his potential game-tying three-point attempt rimmed out.
Minnesota’s comeback was fueled by clutch performances from Julius Randle, who added 25 points, and McDaniels, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Timberwolves had trailed by 12 points late in the third quarter.
“There’s been no panic,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said. “That’s been a hallmark of this group in the second half of the season.”
Doncic, who had been recovering from a stomach illness that limited him in Game 3, returned to form with 38 points on 13-of-28 shooting. However, he struggled in the final quarter, going just 1-for-6 from the field. The Lakers will now return home needing a win in Game 5 on Wednesday to stay alive.
Randle emphasized the team’s unity heading into the elimination game: “It’s going to be even harder to get the next one… but like we’ve done all year, we’ve got to rely on each other, play for one another.”
LeBron James recorded 27 points and 12 rebounds, earning his 144th career postseason double-double. That mark pushes him ahead of Wilt Chamberlain into third all-time, trailing only Tim Duncan and Magic Johnson. He was highly effective from the free-throw line, hitting 15 of 18 attempts, but went scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Despite back-to-back threes from Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith giving the Lakers a lead with 1:29 left, the Timberwolves regained control and closed out strong—continuing a series-long trend of fourth-quarter dominance. Minnesota has now outscored L.A. 105-69 in the final periods across all four games.
The Lakers started the third quarter with a 14-0 run, taking advantage of a quiet arena and hitting their stride behind Reaves and Rui Hachimura. First-year head coach J.J. Redick stuck with that hot lineup throughout the quarter.
Still, it was Minnesota who finished stronger for the second consecutive game.
“We haven’t lost nothing yet,” said Doncic. “It’s still first to four wins. We’ve just got to believe.”
