The Los Angeles Lakers needed a victory badly on Thursday night after dropping their previous three games in a row. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who had the best record in the Western Conference, presented their sole road obstacle.

LeBron James and Gabe Vincent were also unable to participate because it was the second game of a back-to-back. Even though Anthony Davis sprained his ankle in the Lakers’ defeat on Wednesday, they were defeated 118-111 because of all the challenges they faced.

The Lakers got off to a 12-5 lead early in the game by playing with good intensity, rebounding, and defence. With two early baskets apiece, Davis and D’Angelo Russell led the starting lineup despite being shorthanded.

However, Minnesota finally took control when Mike Conley and Karl-Anthony Towns made deep shots to tie the game at 14.

Rui Hachimura, starting in lieu of LeBron James, made an early impact with a dunk and a three-point shot. With a forceful dunk, Anthony Edwards made his mark, but Taurean Prince beat the buzzer to reduce the Lakers’ deficit to 36-32 after the first quarter.

Following several uncharacteristic errors towards the close of the first half, Austin Reaves rebounded well with a couple of deft finishes, including a and-one, to start the second.

However, the Lakers struggled with turnovers, which let Minnesota hold a slight advantage for the whole of the second quarter. But once more, it was Prince who made a three-pointer to close the quarter and send the Lakers into the locker room down 63-59.

In the second half, Davis continued to improve his midrange jumper and came out firing. The score was suddenly knotted at 70 as Prince made another deep run.

Davis’s offensive dominance persisted, and Hachimura’s three-pointer gave the Lakers a tenuous lead at 82-81. Towns then gave Hachimura a hard foul when he drove to the hoop, drawing a Flagrant 1 call. But Naz Reid made a three-pointer at the conclusion of the quarter this time, and the Timberwolves went into the fourth quarter up 87-83.

Early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota increased their advantage to eight points before Hachimura made a huge steal and slam in transition.

D’Angelo Russell had a difficult first three quarters, but he started to shine in the fourth, scoring some baskets to keep his team in the game.

But in the end, the Timberwolves simply had too much firepower, as they were unable to come up with a defence for Towns and Edwards. After extending their lead to double digits, Minnesota was able to coast.