Anthony Edwards scored 43 points, and Jaden McDaniels delivered a clutch three-point play and a key steal in the final minute as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-113 on Sunday, pushing the Lakers to the brink of elimination.
"Is he afraid of the moment?"
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2025
"No... Anthony Edwards IS the moment." https://t.co/UDv5kvtWBJ pic.twitter.com/e3dL1BnLth
Minnesota trailed by 12 late in the third quarter but surged back, with McDaniels converting a go-ahead three-point play with 39.5 seconds left and stealing the inbounds pass from LeBron James moments later. Edwards sealed the win with two free throws after drawing a foul on James.
Austin Reaves missed a corner three at the buzzer that would have forced overtime.
Julius Randle added 25 points and McDaniels finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which has outscored Los Angeles 105-69 in fourth quarters this series. “There’s been no panic,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said.
Luka Doncic, recovered from a stomach illness, led the Lakers with 38 points but shot just 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter. James had 27 points and 12 rebounds, moving past Wilt Chamberlain for third-most playoff double-doubles in NBA history, but went scoreless in the final period.
The Lakers briefly regained the lead late in the fourth after back-to-back threes by Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith, but the Timberwolves responded with a 7-0 run to close it out.
Los Angeles opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run and dominated much of the period, but Minnesota’s resilience down the stretch continued a series-long trend. Game 5 is Wednesday in Los Angeles.
“We haven't lost nothing yet,” Doncic said. “It’s still the first to four wins, and we’ve got to believe.”
