Anthony Edwards scored 43 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves outgunned the Los Angeles Lakers down the stretch to win a pulsating NBA playoff clash 116-113 and take a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference first-round series.
Luka Doncic scored 38 points and LeBron James added 27 for the Lakers, who took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter, but are now one game away from elimination.
Jaden McDaniels drove for a basket and drew a foul with 39.5 seconds to play, converting the free throw to put Minnesota up 114-113.
Photo: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images/USA Today
McDaniels then stole an inbounds pass from James, and Edwards drew a foul on the Lakers superstar and made two free throws that sealed it as Austin Reaves missed a final three-point attempt.
The Lakers will try to stay alive in the best-of-seven series when they host game five tomorrow.
Only 13 NBA teams have rallied from 3-1 down to win a playoff series.
“We haven’t lost nothing yet,” Doncic said. “It’s still the first one to four wins.”
The defending champion Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers all took 3-1 leads in their Eastern Conference series.
The Celtics held off the Orlando Magic 107-98, the Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 94-93 and the Pacers led wire-to-wire in a 129-103 victory over the Bucks in Milwaukee.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, it was a frantic finish to a physical game.
Doncic and James played 46 of the game’s 48 minutes. That included every minute of the second half, when coach J.J. Redick stuck to the same five players throughout.
Trailing by three at halftime, the Lakers opened the third quarter on a 14-0 scoring run and led by as many as 12, taking a 94-84 lead into the final frame.
Edwards scored 16 in the fourth quarter to lead the Timberwolves back.
“I felt like they were gassed going down the stretch,” Edwards said. “So just trying to keep my foot on the pedal and keep going.”
However, James, 40, said he did not think fatigue was a factor.
“Luka missed a point-blank layup to put us up seven. I missed a point-blank layup to put us up four. We had a couple opportunities... I don’t think fatigue had anything to do with that,” he said.
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