After two wins to start the season the Timberwolves had no cure for the NBA champion Lakers who buried them 127-91 in Los Angeles Sunday night.
The Lakers led wire-to-wire, fueling a 40-point first quarter in which they led by as many as 20 points, which grew to 36 points in the third quarter and as many as 40 points in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota was without star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who suffered a dislocated wrist in Saturday’s win over the Utah Jazz. Towns’ injury will not require surgery but his status is being monitored on a week-to-week basis. The Lakers didn’t miss a beat despite being without star Anthony Davis, who has a calf injury.
The Lakers hit their first six threes while the Wolves missed 12 straight from deep to begin the game.
“I thought we didn’t play our brand of basketball at all,” Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders said, via ESPN. “There were a lot of things I didn’t like tonight, so we’ll dive into the film. We’ve got a good locker room there. We’ve got guys who want to do the right thing. They feel the same way, I’m sure.”
Only three players scored in double figures for the Wolves: Naz Reid (11), who started in place of Towns; Jake Layman (10); and Anthony Edwards (15), though he shot just 6-of-21, including 1-of-9 from three.
The Wolves also lost Josh Okogie to a cramping issue in the second quarter.
Minnesota will attempt to get back in the win column when the face the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
