Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota's stifling defence on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series on Friday night.

Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and Julius Randle added 22 for the Wolves, who outscored the Lakers 13-1 over the final 4:37 of the game after Doncic's tying baseline jumper.

LeBron James did the heavy lifting with Doncic playing through a stomach illness, scoring 38 points, including three 3-pointers in a four-possession span midway through the fourth quarter. But he couldn't find a shot after that, hitting the side of the backboard with a corner heave with the Lakers down 111-104 with 1:26 left.

Game 4 is in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon.

Austin Reaves had 20 points on 5-for-11 shooting from 3-point range, where the Lakers stayed hot all night to stay close - offsetting 19 turnovers the Wolves converted into 28 points.

Randle, a first-round draft pick by the Lakers in 2014 who missed the playoffs last year with New York and has only played in 18 career postseason games, was especially fired up for his first home playoff game with Minnesota. He went 9 for 10 from the free-throw line and hustled all over the floor, leading the charge in a 56-26 edge the Wolves had in points in the paint.

Doncic was frequently smothered by McDaniels, Minnesota’s ace perimeter defender, and had a particularly sluggish start. Doncic needed a step-back 28-footer with Edwards guarding him in the closing seconds of the first half to get to eight points at the break.

THAT WAS FUN. pic.twitter.com/ThG9gJmPOy

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 26, 2025

Trent ties playoff mark in Bucks’ win

Gary Trent Jr. tied a franchise playoff record with nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo also had 37 and the Milwaukee Bucks used a big second half to beat Indiana 117-101 and cut the Pacers' series lead to 2-1.

The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent hit three 3-pointers early in the third to pull the Bucks even at 62. The Bucks grabbed a 72-69 lead on Antetokounmpo’s three-point play and led 86-75 at the end of the quarter.

The lead grew to as many as 20 in the fourth and Trent finished 9 for 12 behind the arc to tie Hall of Famer Ray Allen's mark for most 3-pointers in a postseason game.

Antetokounmpo added 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which hosts Game 4 on Sunday. A.J. Green scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 10 for the Bucks, who took on the Pacers for the 18th time in the past two seasons.

Indiana had won five of the last six playoff games between the teams and ousted the Bucks from the playoffs in the opening round last season.

Pascal Siakam had 28 points and Aaron Nesmith scored 18 for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 14 points and 10 assists.

Bucks star guard Damian Lillard was held to seven points on 2-of-12 shooting, including 1-of-8 on 3-pointers.

A franchise first. pic.twitter.com/HqBIChJCZD

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 26, 2025

Wagner, Banchero help Magic win

Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Paolo Banchero added 29 and the Orlando Magic beat Boston 95-93 to cut the Celtics' lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series.

Jayson Tatum had 36 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics in his return to the starting lineup after missing Game 2 with a bruised wrist.

The defending NBA champions were 33-8 on the road this season but are now 0-3 in Orlando in 2024-25. The Magic host Game 4 on Sunday.

Boston rallied after scoring just 11 points in the third quarter to tie it 91 on Derrick White's layup with 2:31 to play. Wagner answered with a layup, and after a miss by Tatum, followed with another basket for a 95-91 lead with 1:26 to play.

White scored, and after Wagner missed a 3-pointer, the Celtics got the ball and inbounded with 0.3 seconds left, but White's pass toward the basket was tapped away as time expired.

 Jaylen Brown had 19 points for the Celtics, who went 17 minutes without a 3-point basket in the second half.

Tatum, who was listed as doubtful late Friday afternoon, scored 21 points in the first half, leading the Celtics to a 10-point lead.

Tatum's 3-pointer early in the second half stretched Boston’s lead to 11, but the Celtics missed 17 of their next 19 shots and did not hit another 3-point shot until Al Horford connected with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter.

Franz Wagner Game 3 highlights:

32 PTS
7 REB
8 AST
2 STL pic.twitter.com/w53hChDH5X

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 26, 2025