The Los Angeles Lakers opened the 2024-25 NBA season with a victory, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
Led by Anthony Davis, who put on an impressive performance with 36 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and one steal, the Lakers took control of the game. Rui Hachimura contributed 18 points and five rebounds, while LeBron James added 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
This game marked the regular season debut of head coach JJ Redick and the historic debut of rookie Bronny James, who played for three minutes in the second quarter. Bronny and LeBron became the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game. LeBron expressed immense pride following the game, calling the experience a significant gift and emphasizing the importance of family.
The Timberwolves narrowed the gap to just four points at 85-81 with 10:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers responded with a 6-0 run to push the lead back to double digits. Jaxson Hayes highlighted the run with an alley-oop dunk after blocking a shot from Mike Conley. Hayes finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds, and one block in 14 minutes off the bench.
At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers led the Timberwolves 82-74, despite Minnesota committing 15 turnovers that resulted in 17 points for Los Angeles. The Lakers dominated the paint, outscoring the Timberwolves 54-28 and grabbing 14 offensive rebounds compared to Minnesota’s eight.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 19 points and five rebounds, while Davis topped the Lakers with 25 points.
Davis’s dominant play continued as he achieved a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds during the third quarter. At one point, he made a spectacular block against Rudy Gobert, displaying his defensive prowess.
By halftime, the Lakers were ahead 55-42, having previously led by as many as 19 points in the first half. Both teams were shooting around 41%, but the Lakers gained an advantage with 14 more shot attempts due to double-digit turnovers from the Timberwolves.
Bronny James, though scoreless in his brief stint, contributed defensively by recording a tipped shot and an offensive rebound during his time on the court.
Throughout the night, the atmosphere was electric, with moments shared between LeBron and Bronny capturing the attention and excitement of fans. The game set the stage not only for a new season but also for a unique family milestone in NBA history.