Towns powers Timberwolves to 120-105 win over Lakers

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 12 rebounds to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-105 on Thursday night.

Andrew Wiggins added 23 points and Jerryd Bayless scored 16 off the bench for the Timberwolves, who have won three straight.

Rajon Rondo had 15 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in his first game since injuring a finger on his right hand at Golden State on Christmas, but the Lakers lost their third in a row.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, right, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram, left, and center Ivica Zubac defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Brandon Ingram had 20 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 13.

The Timberwolves were ahead 84-82 after three quarters. The Lakers scored the first four points of the third, but Minnesota used an 11-1 run to regain the lead with Towns getting seven points, including a 3-pointer to put the Timberwolves back in front.

Los Angeles committed seven turnovers in the third, leading to 11 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Rondo went right to work after missing 14 games because of a sprained finger that required surgery, getting eight points and four rebounds in the first quarter.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Rookie G Jared Terrell scored 10 points after totaling nine in his first four career games. . F Jeff Teague missed his second straight game because of soreness in his left foot. . Minnesota went 3-1 in the season series. The Timberwolves are 15-8 over their past 23 games against the Lakers following a 22-game losing streak.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Lance Stephenson, left, shoots as center Gorgui Dieng defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Lakers: Coach Luke Walton said he would not update a timetable for the return of LeBron James, who missed his 15th straight game because of a groin strain. "I'm not going to throw out weeks or day," Walton said after James returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday. "He knows what he's doing, he's taking care of his body, and when he's ready to go, he'll go." . Los Angeles shot 50.6 percent from the field despite going 8 of 28 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Visit the Utah Jazz on Friday.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, right, shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Lakers: Host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee, left, goes up for a dunk as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Tolliver watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Lance Stephenson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoMark J. Terrill)

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)