The Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 109-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, fueled by strong performances from Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. Randle led the way with 18 points, while Gobert contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 15 points each for Minnesota, who improved to 10-10 on the season. The Wolves held the Lakers to their lowest scoring output since 2017, with suffocating defense limiting Los Angeles to 40.5% shooting from the field and just 19.4% from three-point range.
Anthony Edwards struggled offensively, finishing with eight points on 3-for-13 shooting. However, the Timberwolves compensated with excellent bench contributions and a strong transition game, notching 20 fast-break points and shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis were uncharacteristically quiet for the Lakers, scoring 10 and 12 points, respectively. James, who has now missed 19 consecutive three-point attempts, went 4-for-16 from the field. Davis recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds but struggled to make an impact against Gobert’s interior defense.
D’Angelo Russell, returning to the starting lineup after an illness, led the Lakers with 20 points. Despite his efforts, Los Angeles fell to 12-9 and has now lost five of its last seven games.
Minnesota capitalized on its defensive prowess, holding the Lakers to under 100 points for the second consecutive game and the fourth time this season. Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, was pivotal, disrupting passing lanes and even stealing an inbounds pass for a rare fast-break dunk in the third quarter.
The Timberwolves’ bench played a key role in the blowout. Donte DiVincenzo chipped in 11 points and nine assists, while Luka Garza added six points in just over six minutes of play. Minnesota’s reserves combined for 54 points, far outpacing Los Angeles’ bench production.
