The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off the 2024-25 NBA season with a win.
The Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103 in their season opener at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
The Timberwolves had no answer for Anthony Davis, who got it done on both sides of the floor. Davis finished the contest with 36 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal in the win. Rui Hachimura added 18 points and five rebounds, while LeBron James finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists.
It marked not only the regular season debut of head coach JJ Redick, but the debut of rookie Bronny James, who briefly checked in for three minutes in the second quarter. Bronny James made history alongside his father —they’re the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game.
“It’s always been family over everything. I lost a lot of time because of this league … so to be able to have this moment where I’m working alongside my son is one of the greatest gifts I’ve got from the man above,” LeBron James said after the game. “I’m super proud of him. He’s my lifeline for sure.”
Timberwolves vs. Lakers highlights
Final score: Lakers 110, Timberwolves 103
Lakers respond after Timberwolves close gap
The Timberwolves came within four points of the Lakers, 85-81, with 10:38 remaining in the contest. The Lakers responded with a 6-0 run to extend their lead back to double digits, 91-81, with 8:36 left. The run was capped off by an alley-oop dunk for Jaxson Hayes, who blocked Mike Conley’s 3-point attempt on the other end of the floor. Hayes has given the Lakers impactful minutes off the bench and has scored 10 points, pulled down four rebounds and recorded one block in 14 minutes of play.
End of third quarter: Lakers 82, Timberwolves 74
The Timberwolves have turned the ball over 15 times through the first three quarters, yielding 17 points to the Lakers. Yet Minnesota is only down eight points heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lakers have been the more physical team and have dominated the paint, 54-28. Los Angeles also has 14 offensive rebounds compared to Minnesota’s eight.
Anthony Edwards leads the T’Wolves with 19 points and five rebounds, while Anthony Davis has a team-high 25 points for the Lakers.
Anthony Davis has a double-double
Anthony Davis is taking over the Lakers’ season opener. The center has a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, in addition to three assists, one steal and one block with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter.
Watch: Anthony Davis denies Rudy Gobert at rim
Anthony Davis denied Rudy Gobert in epic fashion. With the Lakers leading 64-50 with 7:08 remaining in the third quarter, Davis swatted a dunk attempt from Gobert, the reigning defensive player of the year.
Halftime: Lakers 55, Timberwolves 42
The Lakers have a 55-42 lead over the Timberwolves at halftime after leading by as many as 19 points in the first half. Both teams are shooting about 41% from the field, but the Lakers have had 14 extra shot attempts in the game due mainly to the Timberwolves’ double-digit turnovers (11).
The Lakers have 10 offensive rebounds, compared to the Timberwolves’ five, and have outscored Minnesota 36-18 in the paint.
Anthony Edwards is the only Timberwolves player in double figures with 14 points (5-of-11 FG, 3-of-7 3PT) and three rebounds. Julius Randle has five points in his Minnesota debut.
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers with 12 points, while Rui Hachimura has 11 and LeBron James has eight. Bronny James was held scoreless in three minutes of play in the first half.
LeBron James slams down dunk
Welcome to Year 22. LeBron James showed that he’s still got it as he slammed down a dunk off a bounce pass from Austin Reaves to extend the Lakers’ lead over the Timberwolves to 53-39 with 2:14 remaining in the second quarter. James turns 40 in December.
The scene in LA as Bronny James makes NBA debut
LOS ANGELES — Bronny gets the ball near the 3-point line and the crowd sounds disappointed as he gives it up rather than launching a shot.
Lakers timeout. That stretch with LeBron and Bronny lasted 1:36.
Bronny credited with a tipped shot — blocked by Rudy Gobert — and an offensive rebound.
More to come. Following a Lakers timeout, here come father and son for more.
‘Ohhhhhhh’ — Crowd’s reaction when Bronny misses an open 3 with about 1:40 left in the quarter.
And Bronny exits. He went 0-for-2 from the field in his 3 minutes.
Bronny James makes debut, takes court with father LeBron
LeBron James and his son Bronny James have made history.
Bronny made his NBA debut in the Lakers’ season-opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, checking in alongside his dad with 4:00 remaining in the second quarter with the Lakers up 51-37. LeBron and Bronny are the first father and son to play in the same game in NBA History.
Rookie Dalton Knecht impressing in debut
Dalton Knecht’s debut has gotten off to a great start. Knecht, the 17th pick in the 2024 draft, gave the Lakers some good minutes off the bench. He knocked down a 3-point shot to extend the Lakers’ lead to 10, 37-27 and spurred a 14-5 run. Knecht is up five points, one rebound and one assist in 10 minutes of play.
LeBron James hits the bench
LOS ANGELES — LeBron exits the game and takes a seat next to Bronny at the end of the bench.
If they can’t share the court, at least they can share the bench.
Lakers have 7-point lead in second quarter
The Lakers went on a 10-1 run to take their largest lead of the game, 34-27.
The Lakers have dominated the Timberwolves in the paint, outscoring them 22-10. Offensive rebounds have also been a factor. The Lakers have snagged eight offensive rebounds and have put up 14 extra shot attempts than the Timberwolves, who have four offensive rebounds.
LeBron and Bronny James: Best photos
End of first quarter: Timberwolves 23, Lakers 22
The Lakers led by as many as six points in the first quarter, before the T’Wolves closed the quarter on an 11-4 run to take their first lead of the game, 23-22. The Lakers have missed their last five field goal attempts.
Anthony Edwards leads Minnesota with eight points, while Jaden McDaniels has four points. The Timberwolves are shooting 44.4% from the field and 1-of-4 from 3.
Anthony Davis has a team-high six points, while LeBron James has four points. Collectively, the Lakers are shooting 30.8% from the field and 2-of-11 from 3.
‘We want Bronny!’ chant break out
LOS ANGELES — As Anthony Davis gets ready to shoot a second free throw with about two minutes left in the first quarter, a few fans begin to chant. ‘We want Bronny! We want Bronny!”
No luck so far, Lakers fans.
Gabe Vincent, Max Christie and Jaxson Hayes have been the first three off the bench for the Lakers.
Rudy Gobert agrees to contract extension with Timberwolves
Just before the Minnesota Timberwolves opened the season against the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday, they reached a three-year, $110 million extension with center Rudy Gobert, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the extension is not yet official.
Gobert, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, is now under contract with Minnesota through 2027-28 for a total of $153.8 million.
Once the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, locking up Gobert beyond this season became a necessity for a team trying to win the Western Conference. Minnesota reached the conference finals last season but lost to Dallas. — Jeff Zillgitt
LeBron James slams down dunk
The Lakers have an 11-7 lead over the Timberwolves with 6:44 remaining in the first quarter. Minnesota has turned the ball over three times in the first five minutes of the contest, which has led to four points for the Lakers. In one sequence, Anthony Davis stole the ball from Mike Conley with 8:39 remaining in the quarter, leading to a slam dunk from LeBron James in transition.
Ken Griffey Jr. and dad share moment with LeBron, Bronny
What do the Jameses and Griffeys have in common? They are among the father-son duos to play in the same game together.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. first did so on Aug. 31, 1990, when they became the first father-son duo to play in the same MLB game. LeBron James and Bronny James are looking to do the same on the basketball court on Tuesday when the Lakers tip off their season against the Timberwolves.
The quartet shared a moment on the court together ahead of the Lakers’ season opener and took a photo to commemorate the moment.
When is the Timberwolves vs. Lakers game?
Tip-off for the opening night game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers is Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 10:00 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Where is Timberwolves vs. Lakers game?
The Lakers will host the Timberwolves in downtown Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena.
How to watch Timberwolves vs. Lakers game
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers matchup will be broadcast on TNT as the second game in an NBA back-to-back presentation. You can also stream on Sling.
Watch the NBA on TNT with a Sling subscription
NBA games today: Opening night schedule
Here are the tip-off times and TV info for the opening night double-header:
All times are Eastern
Knicks vs. Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Timberwolves vs. Lakers, 10:00 p.m. on TNT
Lakers starting 5 tonight
Austin Reaves
D’Angelo Russell
Rui Hachimura
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Timberwolves starting five
Anthony Edwards
Mike Conley
Julius Randle
Jaden McDaniels
Rudy Gobert
Is Bronny James playing tonight?
The Lakers and Timberwolves are a star-studded clash of titans. However, a rookie will steal much of the spotlight on Tuesday. LeBron’s son, Bronny, will be on the roster to open season play, but it remains to be seen if he will touch the court.
James Williams breaks down what we know so far about James and gives us his preseason stats.
Bronny James preseason stats
James appeared in all six of the Lakers’ preseason games, averaging 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game. In the Lakers’ final preseason game, a 74-132 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday, James recorded 17 points, 4 rebounds, three steals and one block in a career-high 35 minutes of work.
LeBron James hazes rookie Bronny James
Bronny James might have a famous father, but he’s still getting rookie treatment. From his own father!
Well, as scripted by Nike, at least. The footwear and apparel company released a spot featuring LeBron and Bronny on the day of the Lakers opener — and LeBron was up to mischief.
Let’s hope Bronny had reliable transportation Tuesday when he left for the Lakers’ season opener. — Josh Peter
What’s on JJ Redick’s mind on big night
LeBron and Bronny James will get top billing. But the game will be Redick’s coaching debut – and his first time coaching in the Lakers’ Crypto.com Arena. (The team’s preseason games were held elsewhere.)
So how was he feeling about two hours before tipoff?
“I just ordered a stir fry back in the locker room,’’ Redick said with a grin. “Not going to lie. I’m pretty excited about that right now just to get some food.
“But I think whatever I envisioned in my previous life, that’s gone. This is who I am now. I’m a coach and so I don’t feel like tonight is at all about me. It’s about our team and it’s about our coaching staff and our group and what we’ve done so far in terms of our work and our preparation.’’
LeBron James patient about making history with Bronny
LeBron James suggested he’s in no rush to share the court with son Bronny.
‘Whenever it happens, it will happen,’ he said Tuesday after shootaround, according to ESPN. “If it’s tonight or if it’s down the line, whenever it happens, it will happen. But it’s been a treat, and just in preseason, the practices, just every day … just bringing him up to speed of what this professional life is all about and how to prepare every day as a professional.’
Bronny played in all six of the Lakers’ preseason games.
Ken Griffey Jr and Ken Griffey Sr will be at Lakers game
When LeBron James and Bronny James take the court for the first time as members of the Los Angeles Lakers, it will be a moment like no other in NBA history. That’s why former MLB stars Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Sr., the first father-son duo to play in the same Major League Baseball game, will be on hand Tuesday night as the Lakers open the 2024-25 regular season at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“First father and son to play baseball, now first father and son to play basketball, so it’s a big deal for my dad and I to be there,” Griffey Jr. said on MLB Network Radio earlier this week. “We made history, now we get to watch history.”
Bronny James described the Griffeys being in attendance as ‘insane.’ He added, “I mean, only two families to do it, so it’s going to be a crazy experience, especially (with) what they’ve done.”
Inside the NBA enters final season
Tuesday is the last first game of the season for TNT’s popular and award-winning “Inside the NBA” program and crew. Ernie Johnson. Charles Barkley. Kenny Smith. Shaquille O’Neal. A collective national treasure, if sports shows can be considered national treasures.
Read Jeff Zillgitt’s complete column on how they have woven their way into the vibrant fabric of the NBA through the television screen – a perfectly imperfect blend of basketball, serious debate, humor, entertainment and life.
LeBron James entering 22nd season
LeBron James is getting ready to embark on his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history. James is one of only six players that have played more than 20 seasons — Carter (22), Dirk Nowitzki (21), Kevin Garnett (21), Kevin Willis, (21) and Robert Parish (21).
Timberwolves vs Lakers all-time record
The Timberwolves and Lakers have played 129 times during the regular season in their histories, with Los Angeles getting the better of the head-to-head matchup, 85-44. The two have met twice in the playoffs, in 2003 and 2004. The Lakers took both series, 4-2.
NBA season predictions
The experts at USA TODAY Network offer predictions for the season ahead, including which team will lift the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Jeff Zillgitt: Celtics over Thunder
Scooby Axson: Celtics over Timberwolves
Lorenzo Reyes: Nuggets over Knicks
Damichael Cole: Thunder over Celtics
Dustin Dopirak: Celtics over Nuggets
Jim Owczarski: Thunder over Celtics
Duane Rankin: Celtics over Timberwolves
Heather Tucker: Celtics over Suns
NBA MVP candidates
Who is this year’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the next player to move deep into the NBA MVP conversation? Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the top candidates.
NBA power rankings
Here is every team in the NBA ranked based on their championship odds heading into the 2024-25 regular season. All odds via BetMGM.
Boston Celtics (+325)
Oklahoma City Thunder (+500)
New York Knicks (+650)
Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)
Denver Nuggets (+1100)
Dallas Mavericks (+1200)
Minnesota Timberwolves (+1200)
Milwaukee Bucks (+1400)
Phoenix Sun (+2000)
Cleveland Cavaliers (+3500)
Memphis Grizzlies (+3500)
Bronny James health: What we know about rookie’s condition
Back on July 24, 2023, James suffered cardiac arrest during a USC offseason workout. Bronny has since spoken out about the incident and the conditioning that followed.
Mark Giannotto has the latest on the rookie’s journey back to the court.
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