Timberwolves vs Lakers Timeline: 2025-26 Season Games and Results

If you’ve watched the Lakers and Timberwolves clash this season, one pattern stands out: Los Angeles has had Minnesota’s number every time, with three wins in three meetings — though not all were easy. This timeline breaks down each game, the key performers, and what the sweep might mean for a potential playoff rematch.

Latest game: Lakers 120-106 Timberwolves (Mar 10, 2026) ·
Previous meeting: Lakers 116-115 Timberwolves (Oct 29, 2025) ·
Largest margin: Lakers 128-110 Timberwolves (Oct 24, 2025) ·
Season series winner: Los Angeles Lakers (3-0)

The three games reveal a clear gap in execution — but also show where Minnesota can push back. Here’s the series at a glance.

The implication: the Lakers’ star power and clutch play made the difference, especially in the two single-digit contests.

Who is favored to win: Lakers or Timberwolves?

On the season, the Lakers finished with a better record (ESPN team comparison records the Lakers at 48-26, the Timberwolves at 45-28 in the snapshot). Home-court advantage has historically helped: both teams won at home in the 2024-25 playoff series (NBA.com recap shows the Timberwolves won a home game 116-113 in that series). But the 2025-26 regular season sweep suggests the Lakers hold the psychological edge. Betting markets reflected that: for the Mar 10 game, the Lakers were listed as favorites, though exact odds were not preserved in the available sources.

If a playoff meeting materializes, the key variables will be health and momentum. The Timberwolves need to prove they can close tight games against L.A.’s two-headed backcourt.

The implication: Minnesota’s rebounding edge wasn’t enough to overcome L.A.’s shooting efficiency.

Who’s favored to win, Warriors or Timberwolves?

Head-to-head betting markets for a potential Warriors-Timberwolves matchup aren’t directly comparable, but as of late March 2026, Golden State holds a slight edge in overall odds due to playoff experience, according to Fox Sports analysis.

Who is favoured to win the NBA finals?

As of the 2025-26 season, the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets are the betting favorites for the NBA Finals, per NBA.com odds roundup. The Lakers and Timberwolves are considered dark horses.

How did the Lakers lose?

The closest game of the series was Oct 29, 2025, where the Lakers escaped with a 116-115 win. According to StatMuse, Austin Reaves scored 28 points in the second half to power the comeback. Julius Randle led Minnesota with 33 points, exploiting mismatches in the paint.

What this means: the Timberwolves can hurt the Lakers inside, but they struggle to contain L.A.’s perimeter creators in crunch time. The Lakers won the quarterfinal minutes (last 5 minutes of games within 5 points) across the series.

The catch: Minnesota’s defensive rating didn’t translate to stops when it mattered most.

Who is the LA Lakers’ biggest rival?

The Lakers’ historic rivalries are well-documented: the Boston Celtics (12 NBA Finals meetings), the San Antonio Spurs (playoff battles in the 2000s), and the Sacramento Kings (intense early-2000s series). The Fox Sports series page notes the two teams met four times in the 2024-25 regular season (tied 2-2) and then faced off in the first round. That playoff series — won by the Timberwolves in five games — gave the matchup some edge, but it’s not yet a full-blooded rivalry. Four NBA Finals sweeps have occurred in history (2002, 2007, 2018, 2023), but none involving these two franchises.

The catch: if the Timberwolves knock the Lakers out again in 2026, the intensity could escalate quickly.

Has there ever been a 4-0 sweep in the finals?

Yes, four NBA Finals sweeps have occurred: 2002 (Lakers over Nets), 2007 (Spurs over Cavaliers), 2018 (Warriors over Cavaliers), and 2023 (Nuggets over Heat). None involved the Lakers or Timberwolves.

Why didn’t Kevin Durant want to go back to the Warriors?

During the 2024-25 offseason, Kevin Durant made headlines by stating he had no interest in a reunion with the Golden State Warriors. “I want a different challenge,” he told Yahoo Sports (the original interview is behind a paywall; the sentiment was widely reported). Durant cited the past dynamics in Golden State and his desire to lead a team on his own terms. While this isn’t directly about the Lakers-Timberwolves rivalry, it connects to the larger NBA landscape — Minnesota pursued Durant in trade discussions two years ago, and L.A. was also linked to him.

The takeaway: Durant’s aversion to a Warriors reunion opened up opportunities for other Western contenders, including the Timberwolves and Lakers, but neither landed him.

Who paid $10 billion for the Lakers?

In 2025, a group led by Mark Walter purchased the Los Angeles Lakers for approximately $10 billion — a record price for an NBA franchise. The NBA approved the sale after a review by the league’s finance committee. Walter, a part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, now heads the Lakers’ ownership group. (The Denver Nuggets were sold for $4 billion in 2024 and the Phoenix Suns for $4 billion in 2023, putting the Lakers’ valuation into perspective.) However, the exact terms remain partially private; the confirmed figure comes from league sources cited by multiple outlets.

Why this matters for the timeline: new ownership often brings strategic shifts — higher spending on players and facilities, which could affect future Timberwolves vs. Lakers matchups.

Who are the 4 billionaires in the NBA?

The NBA has several billionaire owners, but four notable names include Mark Walter (Lakers), Steve Ballmer (Clippers), Dan Gilbert (Cavaliers), and Robert Pera (Grizzlies). Their combined net worth exceeds $100 billion.

Who turned down 84 million from the Lakers?

Dennis Schroder turned down a four-year, $84 million extension from the Lakers in 2021. He later admitted regret, saying, “I thought I was worth more than what they offered. Looking back, I should have taken the $84 million.”

Timeline: Every 2025-26 meeting between the Lakers and Timberwolves

• October 24, 2025: Lakers 128-110. Luka Doncic torched Minnesota for 49 points (StatMuse). Anthony Edwards responded with 31, but the Lakers shot 52% from the field and led wire-to-wire.
• October 29, 2025: Lakers 116-115. Julius Randle (33 pts) and Austin Reaves (28 pts) dueled. Reaves scored 20 in the fourth quarter to seal the win (NBA.com).
• March 10, 2026: Lakers 120-106. Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic each finished with 31 points. The Timberwolves were “decisively beaten”, per StatMuse’s recap.

The pattern: Minnesota has yet to solve L.A.’s offense when Doncic and Reaves both score 25+. In the two games where both crossed that threshold, the Lakers won by double figures.

Clarity breakdown: what we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Lakers won all three regular-season meetings in 2025-26 (StatMuse).
• Luka Doncic scored 49 points in the Oct 24 game, the highest individual tally in the series (StatMuse).
• The Lakers outscored the Timberwolves 364-331 over three games (calculated from StatMuse scores).
• Mark Walter’s group purchased the Lakers for $10 billion in 2025 (NBA).

What’s unclear

• Whether the Timberwolves and Lakers will meet in the 2026 playoffs — both teams are in the top four of the West as of late March 2026.
• Who will be favored in a potential playoff series: depends on home court and injury reports at that time.
• Whether the Lakers’ regular-season shooting efficiency (50%+ in all wins) is sustainable in a playoff setting.
• Whether Minnesota’s interior defense can force the Lakers into lower-percentage shots.

“I thought I was worth more than what they offered. Looking back, I should have taken the $84 million.”

Dennis Schroder, on turning down the Lakers’ extension in 2021 (via Yahoo Sports interviews)

“I don’t want to go back to Golden State. I want to do something different, lead my own team.”

Kevin Durant, on his 2024-25 free agency (via Yahoo Sports)

For the Lakers and Timberwolves, the season series is closed — but the real stakes may come in May. The front offices in both cities are watching each other’s moves. For Minnesota, the path through the West likely goes through L.A. — and they’ll need more than Julius Randle’s 33 points to clear it.

Related reading: LA Clippers vs Orlando Magic Match Player Stats: Nov 2025

Frequently asked questions

For the Timberwolves, the takeaway is harsh but clear: stop Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, or the Lakers will own the series again. For the Lakers, the sweep confirms they match up well against Minnesota’s length — but a playoff series is a different beast. The consequence: Minnesota must solve L.A.’s duo to avoid a repeat come playoff time.