LeBron leads Lakers to 3rd win in 4, 114-110 over Wolves

LeBron James had 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Kyle Kuzma scored six of his 21 points in the final minutes of the Los Angeles Lakers' 114-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

Josh Hart scored 21 points and Brandon Ingram added 20 for the Lakers, who avenged a loss at Minnesota nine days earlier with a tenacious finish at Staples Center.

Kuzma's fourth 3-pointer put the Lakers up 111-104 with 1:51 to play for their biggest lead of the night. Derrick Rose promptly hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the Wolves, trimming the lead to one with 1:06 left.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram, right, shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, center, defends and forward Andrew Wiggins watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Kuzma hit one of two free throws with 9.5 seconds left after two huge offensive rebounds by Tyson Chandler, who had nine boards in an auspicious Lakers debut. Rose missed a 3 under heavy defensive pressure from Chandler, and Hart hit two free throws to seal it.

Rose scored 31 points and Jimmy Butler added 24 for the Timberwolves, who dropped to 0-7 on the road this season with their fourth consecutive loss overall. Minnesota had won five straight over the Lakers.

James fell just shy of his 75th triple-double, but scored nine points in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, right, tries to get past Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Chandler signed with his hometown team on Tuesday, shortly after the 18-year veteran big man reached a buyout agreement with Phoenix. He immediately provided defense, rebounding and hard picks — all areas of need for the Lakers — while playing a surprising 23 minutes.

Minnesota came out in an offensive groove during its second straight game at Staples Center following Monday's loss to the Clippers.

All five Wolves starters reached double figures in the first half while hitting 66 percent of their shots. Rose and Wiggins hit three 3-pointers apiece and all five starters contributed to an 11-for-17 performance beyond the arc, tying the franchise record for 3s in a first half.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center Tyson Chandler defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

But the Lakers didn't get humiliated in the first quarter, as they did last Sunday in their loss to Toronto. Hart hit four 3-pointers in the first half, and Kuzma hit a buzzer-beating 3 to limit Minnesota's lead to 67-65.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Butler converted a four-point play to tie it at 94 with 7:44 to play. ... Coach Tom Thibodeau used the same starting lineup from Monday's loss to the Clippers.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, goes up for a shot as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose, left, forward Taj Gibson, second from right, and forward Andrew Wiggins watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Lakers: Chandler grew up in several parts of California before moving to Compton, where he starred at Dominguez High School and became the No. 2 pick in the 2001 NBA draft. ... JaVale McGee had 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: At the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose, center, goes to the basket as Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee, left, and forward Kyle Kuzma defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Lakers: At the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)