Anthony Edwards scored 43 points, Julius Randle added 25, and the Minnesota Timberwolves took a 3-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers with a 116-113 victory Sunday.
The Timberwolves outscored the Lakers 32-19 in the fourth quarter. Minnesota was down by two points with 1:29 left in the game but retook the lead on an and-1 dunk from Jaden McDaniels. Edwards then sank two free throws after a replay found he was fouled by LeBron James.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves missed a game-tying 3-pointer with less than a second remaining.
Edwards became the fourth player to record at least five 40-point performances in the playoffs before turning 25, joining James, Luka Doncic, and Rick Barry, according to Statmuse. The Timberwolves star recorded 16 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter.
"You could see it in his eyes that he was going to bring it home," coach Chris Finch said, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
The Timberwolves trailed by as much as 12 points. They dominated points in the paint, leading Los Angeles 48-30. Minnesota also grabbed eight more rebounds, and its bench outscored the Lakers' 25-8.
Los Angeles played five players for the entire second half: James, Reaves, Doncic, Rui Hachimura, and Dorian Finney-Smith. Doncic led the Lakers with 38 points. James added 27 and 12 rebounds, but he scored no points in the fourth quarter.
The Timberwolves have a chance to advance to the Western Conference semifinals with one more win Wednesday.
