MINNESOTA Timberwolves gut it out with a 116-113 escape over Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference first round series on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Down 111-113 following a three-pointer from Lakers’ Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen McDaniels completed a three-point play to give the Timberwolves a 114-113 advantage.
Anthony Edwards managed to increase the lead to 116-113 after a costly turnover and foul by Lakers’ LeBron James. LA still had a chance to force an overtime but Austin Reaves missed a wide-open triple at the buzzer.
Edwards top-scored with 43 points, including five three-point conversions, to go with nine rebounds, six assists, and a steal as the Timberwolves took a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series.
Julius Randle added 25 points and seven rebounds, McDaniels contributed a double-double of 16 points and 11 boards, and Naz Reid chipped in 12 markers off the bench for the Timberwolves.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 38 points, James added 27 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, while Rui Hachimura and Reaves had 23 and 17 markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns knocked down timely baskets in the endgame as New York Knicks pulled off a 94-93 Game 4 win over Detroit Pistons and take a 3-1 edge in their best-of- seven series.
Down 89-93 with under two minutes left, Towns converted a two-pointer to cut the deficit to 91-93 followed by a three-pointer in the final 47 seconds to surge the Knicks ahead for good.
Towns finished with 27 points, including five three-pointers, Jalen Brunson had a double-double of 32 points and 11 assists, and Josh Hart contributed 14 markers for the Knicks.
Defending champions Boston Celtics also moved closer to the next round after a 107-98 victory over Orlando Magic in Game 4. Jayson Tatum led the way with a double-double of 37 points and 14 rebounds.
Indiana Pacers also surged to a 3-1 series lead following a 129-103 Game 4 road victory over Milwaukee Bucks. Myles Turner led the way for the Pacers with 23 points./PN
BOX SCORE:
MINNESOTA 116 — Edwards 43, Randle 25, McDaniels 16, Reid 12, DiVincenzo 8, Gobert 5, Alexander-Walker 5, Conley 2, Shannon 0.
LOS ANGELES 113 — Doncic 38, L. James 27, Hachimura 23, Reaves 17, Finney-Smith 6, Hayes 2, Vincent 0, Goodwin 0, Vanderbilt 0.
Quarterscores: 28-32, 61-58, 84-94, 116-113.
