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Timberwolves hang on to beat depleted Pacers 114-110, after Edwards exits early with tight hamstring

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Julius Randle scored 20 of his 31 points in the first half, and Rudy Gobert contributed 14 points and 19 rebounds to help the Minnesota Timberwolves hold on and defeat the depleted Indiana Pacers 114-110 on Sunday night.

The game took a hit for Minnesota early when star Anthony Edwards exited with hamstring tightness just 3:08 into the game. Despite his absence, the Timberwolves managed to maintain control. Donte DiVincenzo stepped up with 17 points to stabilize the Pacers’ backcourt, while Naz Reid added a strong performance with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

For Indiana, Pascal Siakam led the charge with 33 points. He hit a crucial 3-pointer with 42 seconds left to narrow the deficit to 110-108. However, Jaden McDaniels responded with a finger-roll basket to extend Minnesota’s lead to four with 20 seconds remaining, securing the win for the Timberwolves. Aaron Nesmith also contributed 18 points for the Pacers.

The Pacers are facing significant challenges this season. They are without Tyrese Haliburton, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his NBA Finals run, and they lost current leading scorer Bennedict Mathurin to a sprained toe the previous night in Memphis. Additionally, Andrew Nembhard, the primary point guard during Haliburton’s absence, missed his second straight game with a shoulder strain. In total, seven players were unavailable, forcing Indiana to deploy a starting lineup featuring journeyman Jay Huff, little-used big man Isaiah Jackson, and young guard Ben Sheppard.

The home opener in Minnesota carried extra excitement with the introduction of stage-style lighting on the court and the return of the all-black uniforms with pine-tree trim, reminiscent of the Kevin Garnett era. Nevertheless, the early loss of Edwards tempered the energy. The Timberwolves took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Pacers 28-17 and drawing 11 fouls while committing only three.

With the win, Minnesota improves to 2-1, while Indiana falls to 0-3 after their opener was a double-overtime loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Looking ahead, Indiana will play at Dallas on Wednesday, and Minnesota will host Denver on Monday.

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AP NBA
https://wtop.com/sports/2025/10/timberwolves-hang-on-to-beat-depleted-pacers-114-110-after-edwards-exits-early-with-tight-hamstring/

Takeaways: Lakers flatten Timberwolves as Luka Doncic scores 49 points

**Lakers Dominate Timberwolves 128-110 in LeBron James’ Absence**

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers secured a convincing 128-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, despite missing their superstar LeBron James. The matchup marked the second meeting between the teams this season and was a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff series.

Luka Doncic was the star of the night, delivering an outstanding performance with 49 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. The Lakers showcased their offensive prowess by shooting an impressive 59.2% from the field.

### Early Timberwolves Lead Fades Quickly

The Timberwolves started strong, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter. They executed a fast-paced game plan, pushing the ball aggressively after makes and misses, which helped them settle into an early rhythm. Minnesota raced out to a 28-17 lead by hitting 11 of their first 14 shots.

Anthony Edwards led the Wolves’ offense with 31 points, while Julius Randle contributed 26. Despite their early success, the Timberwolves’ defense struggled to contain the Lakers, especially when Doncic was on the floor.

### Lakers Rally in Second Quarter

With Doncic resting on the bench during the second quarter, the Timberwolves’ defensive issues became more evident, as the Lakers clawed back to erase the double-digit deficit and tied the game at 60. The Lakers took a 68-63 lead into halftime with Doncic already tallying 32 points.

### Lakers Extend Lead in Second Half

The third quarter painted a stark picture for Minnesota. After allowing Portland to score 95 points by the end of three quarters earlier in the week, the Wolves gave up an even more daunting 108 points to the Lakers through three quarters on Friday.

Defensive lapses were plentiful, with late rotations, open shooters, and frequent falls for pump fakes. The Lakers kept the pressure on, extending their lead to 14 points early in the fourth quarter.

### Impact of LeBron’s Absence

LeBron James, 40, sat out due to a nerve injury that could keep him sidelined for Wednesday’s game against Minnesota at the Target Center. Without him, Doncic has taken on a heavy offensive load, following up his 43-point debut against Golden State with Friday’s dominant 49-point outing.

### Supporting Cast Steps Up

The Lakers received strong contributions beyond Doncic. Austin Reaves, who the Wolves had limited effectively in the playoffs last season, scored 25 points and provided 11 assists. Rui Hachimura also impressed, scoring 23 points on a highly efficient 10-for-13 shooting.

### Timberwolves’ Rotation and Dillingham’s Debut

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch continued his deep rotation, using 10 players throughout the game. Second-year guard Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, was initially left out of the rotation. Finch opted to use Bones Hyland for backup point guard minutes when Mike Conley picked up three first-half fouls. Hyland contributed nine points off the bench, with Jaylen Clark adding another nine.

Dillingham finally got his first minutes of the season with the Wolves trailing 117-98 and just over eight minutes remaining. Unfortunately, his night was cut short after only 59 seconds due to a bloody nose.

### Doncic’s Masterclass

No matter the defensive assignment—be it Jaden McDaniels, Jaylen Clark, or Anthony Edwards—Doncic consistently found open shots, drew fouls, or set up teammates for easy baskets. His masterful performance left the Wolves powerless to stop him and was the defining factor in the Lakers’ dominant win.

The Timberwolves are now 1-1 on the West Coast trip and will return home for their season opener against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Lakers look to continue their strong start as they prepare for upcoming matchups without LeBron James.
https://www.startribune.com/takeaways-lakers-flatten-timberwolves-as-luka-doncic-scores-49-points/601461891

Lakers Coach JJ Redick Gives Encouraging Update on Luka Doncic’s Injury

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared a promising update on Luka Doncic‘s injury ahead of Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Doncic was favoring his right groin late in the Lakers’ opening night loss to the Golden State Warriors. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, coach JJ Redick told reporters after Wednesday’s practice that Doncic was a full participant. Redick described the injury as minor, but the Slovenian superstar did undergo treatment.

“He seems to be fine. I don’t think it’s anything major. He got some treatment this morning, and we didn’t practice long, but he was a participant in practice,” Redick said.

This was an encouraging update, considering Doncic’s previous issues with muscle-related injuries last season. He underwent a different offseason regimen this past summer, focusing on his body, health, and conditioning. The hard work and dedication paid off based on how well Doncic performed for Slovenia at the 2025 EuroBasket.

He also looked fantastic in the Lakers’ season opener against the Warriors, finishing with 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists. However, it wasn’t enough to prevent a 119-109 defeat.

### Doncic Downplays Injury

Speaking at the postgame press conference on Tuesday, Luka Doncic was asked about his injury and whether it was serious. Doncic downplayed the issue and called it “nothing.” He said it was a hip issue but sounded very optimistic.

“It’s probably nothing. Just felt it a little bit because my hip went (the opposite) way. Felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing,” Doncic said.

Obviously, some Lakers fans were concerned to see Doncic uncomfortable and in pain. The franchise has heavily invested in “The Don” this offseason, signing him to a three-year, $165 million extension, according to Spotrac.

The Lakers were already without LeBron James, who has been dealing with sciatica since late July to early August. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier this week that James is targeting a return to action by mid-November.

According to Fox Sports, Doncic has had multiple injuries to his calf, knee, back, ankle, groin, and quad since December 25, 2024.

### Lakers’ Depth In Question

The Lakers entered the 2025-26 NBA season filled with hope after Luka Doncic signed an extension and LeBron James opted into the final year of his contract. However, CBS Sports’ Brad Botkin pointed out after the Lakers’ opening night loss to the Warriors that the team’s depth isn’t strong.

With James out, coach JJ Redick cannot solely rely on Doncic and Austin Reaves for the majority of their offense.

“You simply cannot rely on two dudes combining for 69 points, 18 assists and 17 rebounds while logging a combined 76 minutes, especially if you’re still losing the game. Those are not sustainable numbers through any lens,” Botkin wrote.

Redick will have to find ways to get their role players going, especially Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent, who both started against the Warriors. Hachimura had nine points in 36 minutes, while Vincent produced just two points in 29 minutes.

The Lakers’ ability to find additional contributors will be crucial as they navigate the challenges of the season without their star players at full health.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/los-angeles-lakers/jj-redick-update-luka-doncic-injury/