The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 127-117 on Sunday night by taking advantage of LeBron James’s absence and Anthony Davis’ early exit due to an eye ιnjury. Naz Reid scored 31 points and made six 3-pointers.

With their eighth victory in nine games, Anthony Edwards scored 26 points to help the Timberwolves draw even with Denver atop the Western Conference at 54-24. Minnesota made the most of their excellent opportunity to defeat the Lakers, who were without their two best players for the whole of the game.

James missed the eleventh game of his 21st NBA season because he stayed home due to flu-like symptoms. After being struck in the face by Kyle Anderson on a late-first-quarter tip-in basket, Davis walked to the locker room.

The nine-time All-Star left the game without playing again. A collision that Davis took during a game against Golden State last month already caused damage to his left eye.

Without Davis guarding the middle, Minnesota ripped open a close game with a 46-point second quarter. Rudy Gobert scored six of his eighteen points in the fourth quarter as Minnesota comfortably prevailed, although Los Angeles’ supporting cast managed to keep it close in the third. Gobert had 16 rebounds as well.

The Lakers, who had only lost twice in eleven games, snapped a four-game winning streak behind 30 points from Rui Hachimura. In the fiercely competitive West, Los Angeles also immediately dropped back to ninth position after, on Saturday, making its first move up to eighth since late December.

In Davis’ place, the Lakers’ backup big man Jaxson Hayes recorded a season-high 19 points and 10 assists in 33 minutes of play, while Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in with 18 points and seven assists. When Los Angeles needed a big performance from its third option, D’Angelo Russell faltered, missing 14 of his 19 shots to end with 15 points and 11 assists.

Minnesota bounced back from its worst оffensive outing of the season last Friday in Phoenix to have a shot to be the No. 1 seed in the West for just the second time in team history.

After Davis exited, Minnesota swiftly took control of a close game, winning 79-64 at the half thanks to 18 points from Reid in the second quarter. Reid, who also pulled down 11 rebounds, scored 46 points in the Wolves’ two prior games against the Lakers.

The Lakers also rested backup point guard Gabe Vincent, who only made his comeback from a serious ιnjury four games ago, in addition to James.