Rudy Gobert leads Timberwolves past Lakers despite Anthony Davis’ 38

LOS ANGELES(AP) — Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Anthony Edwardsscored 19 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves completed atwo-game Los Angeles sweep with a 110-102 victory over theshort-handed Lakers on Friday night.

Naz Reidscored 15 for the Wolves, who moved back above .500 and reboundedfrom an 0-3 stretch with impressive back-to-back wins over theClippers and Lakers, whose fourth-quarter rally fell just short.Minnesota also blew most of a big late lead three days ago againstthe Clippers, but their tenacity is promising to coach ChrisFinch.

“The lastcouple of games, it’s been big for us,” Finch said. “We’ve found away. It’s a perfect time to find that resiliency.”

Anthony Davisscored 38 points and Malik Beasley had 15 for the Lakers, who lostfor only the second time in six games. Los Angeles couldn’t keep upwithout injured LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell, who wasn’t ableto suit up against the team that traded him Feb. 9 after parts offour seasons in Minnesota.

The Lakerstrailed by 14 early in the fourth quarter, but made it close with a16-6 run down the stretch. Minnesota’s lead dwindled to threepoints before Davis lost his shoe during a defensive possession,leading to Mike Conley hitting an open 3-pointer with 1:13 to play.The Wolves closed it out authoritatively from there.

“There was atime when it looked like we were playing in mud,” Lakers coachDarvin Ham said. “(The Wolves) are fighting for their lives as welland trying to get to the postseason. They had that urgency, and wedidn’t.”

James missedhis third straight game with a right foot injury, and the NBA’scareer scoring leader won’t even be re-evaluated until late thismonth, when only a handful of games remain in the Lakers’ season.His absence threatens to negate the recent push by Los Angeles,which surged out of the trade deadline with its revampedroster.

The Lakers’playoff fate could be determined before James returns: This loss toeighth-place Minnesota began a vital stretch of Los Angeles’ seasonwith 10 of 12 games at home. Los Angeles is 5-3 since its flurry ofactivity at the deadline.

“I feel likewe’re playing pretty good basketball,” Davis said. “When our teamis whole, we’ve shown what we can do. It’s just tough, knowing howgood we are.”

EightTimberwolves scored at least eight points, leading Gobert to praisetheir reserves in a balanced offensive attack. Gobert got rollinghimself on both ends of the court when he switched into a defensivematchup with Davis in the second quarter.

“The last twogames, the bench has been huge, coming into the game with thatenergy and the mindset,” Gobert said. “You can tell we’re on amission right now.”

Davis stillhad a prolific offensive game, but with Gobert hounding him ondefense, he also committed a season high-tying six turnovers,giving him 11 in his last two games.

DennisSchröder had 12 assists and no turnovers while playing on aninjured ankle for the Lakers, who struggled to run an offense whentheir German point guard wasn’t on the floor.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves:Jaylen Nowell missed his third straight game with a left kneeinjury. ... Conley finished with 14 points.

Lakers:Russell missed his fourth straight game since spraining his rightankle last week, but he is scrimmaging in practice, Ham said.Russell could return Sunday. ... Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt andBeasley will return to Target Center with the Lakers on March 31.... They wore their Minneapolis Lakers throwback uniforms.

UPNEXT

Timberwolves:At Sacramento on Saturday.

Lakers: HostGolden State on Sunday.