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Timberwolves hand LeBron-less Lakers 4th straight loss, 118-111

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Anthony Edwards had 27 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past Los Angeles 118-111 on Thursday and hand the Lakers – with LeBron James sitting out on the second night of back-to-back games – their fourth straight loss.

The Wolves – also playing for a second straight night – tied Boston at 21-6 for the NBA ‘s best record.

“All credit to the guys for getting the win on a back-to-back. I know there might not have been a full tank for everyone, but that’s one of those games where if it goes three more minutes, we may lose it,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points for Minnesota before limping to the locker room for further examination on a lower-leg injury – Finch said Towns took a “bang” but had no update on his condition – with 5:07 left.

By then, the Wolves were awake after a sleepy third quarter.

Mike Conley finished with 16 points, eight assists and two of the team’s 13 steals and Rudy Gobert had 15 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as the Wolves avoided consecutive losses for the first time this season and improved to 12-1 at home.

Los Angeles Lakers’ Justin Reaves drives to the basket while Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards defends. PHOTO: AFP

“We just use our depth and our size,” Conley said. “That can be overwhelming for certain teams at certain times, and it allows us to just be unpredictable every night.”

Anthony Davis had 31 points and eight rebounds, and Rui Hachimura – in the starting lineup with James out to rest tendinitis in his ankle – scored 18 points as the Lakers fell to 1-5 since winning the NBA In-Season Tournament.

They’re 15-14 overall and 5-11 on the road.

“We’ll break through this thing, once we get guys back healthy, get guys back in rhythm,” coach Darvin Ham said. “We’ll be okay.”

The Lakers have been in a mini-slump over the last 12 days, whether or not the lag was related to the investment of energy into winning the league’s inaugural sideshow in Las Vegas.

While James watched from the bench in a stocking hat and hooded sweatshirt, Davis powered through an ankle injury against one of the league’s best groups of big men with Gobert, Towns and backup Naz Reid.

“It was a battle from start to finish and he showed why he is who he is, even in a loss,” Ham said. “He’s a pleasure to coach, man.”

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