Lakers Fall to Wolves in Game 3 Despite LeBron’s Big Night, Turnovers Hurt LA
The Lakers fall to Wolves in Game 3 of their playoff series after a strong start and standout performance by LeBron James. Despite his 38-point game and strong leadership on the court, the team couldn’t hold off Minnesota, losing 116-104 on Friday night.
LeBron scored 22 points in the first half alone and added 10 rebounds and 4 assists. He tried to keep the Lakers in the game with a run of 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter, but turnovers and defensive struggles were too much to overcome.
Lakers Fall to Wolves After Turnover Troubles
Turnovers played a major role in the Lakers’ loss. They gave the ball away 16 times, which the Timberwolves turned into 28 points. From the start, LA struggled with ball handling, committing four turnovers in the opening minutes.
Minnesota played sharp defense and controlled the pace, especially in the paint. Their length disrupted LA’s offense and led to multiple scoring runs.
- LeBron James: 38 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists
- Austin Reaves: 20 points, 7 rebounds
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves): Key fourth-quarter plays and a clutch 3-pointer
Wolves scored 28 points off 16 Lakers turnovers
Minnesota dominated points in the paint early on.
Minnesota responded to a 5-0 LA run with a 5-0 burst of their own, but DFS was able to put back a Doncic miss ahead of the 1st Q conclusion to make it 32-26.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 26, 2025
Wolves were 5 of 6 at the FT line, while LA didn't get to the charity stripe.
“We just didn’t take care of the ball the way we needed to,” said Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. “Turnovers killed our momentum.”
LeBron’s effort kept LA close, but it wasn’t enough to flip the result. His leadership was clear, but Minnesota adjusted well and kept hitting shots late in the game.
LeBron Shines, But It’s Not Enough
Rui Hachimura and Jordan Goodwin also contributed, with strong defensive moments and key rebounds. But Minnesota’s defense stayed locked in, especially in the final minutes.
Even though LA pushed back with a short scoring run early in the second quarter, the Timberwolves stayed aggressive. Anthony Edwards returned to the game late to close it out with big plays, including a 3-pointer that put Minnesota up by 9 with just over a minute left.
The Lakers now face a tough road ahead in the series. With Game 4 coming up, the pressure is on to clean up mistakes and respond with urgency.
More…
- https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44836391/luka-lebron-most-dangerous-60-foot-passes-game-los-angeles-lakers/
- https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2025/4/25/24417241/lakers-vs-wolves-final-score-recap-stats-box-score-playoffs-lebron-james-luka-doncic-austin-reaves/
- https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6301238/2025/04/23/lakers-playoffs-game-2-defense/
