On March 17, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, with the Lakers playing against the Timberwolves. The Lakers trailed by 14 points in the first quarter, and James and Westbrook were 2-of-10. In the second quarter, the Lakers were again pulled apart by a point difference, trailing by 25 points at most, and although the Lakers chased points, Edwards broke out with 20 points in a single quarter, leading the Timberwolves to lead by 21 points.
In this game, the Lakers adjusted the starting, Howard started, and he still had some impact on Downs in the opening stage of the first quarter, but Beverly played well, getting 9 points in the first quarter, James did not feel good, the Lakers tried to chase points, Towns scored consecutively, Beasley hit three consecutive points, the Timberwolves quickly opened the point difference, the first quarter was 31-17 to lead 14 points, James 7 of 2, Westbrook 3 of 0, also received a technical foul.
In the second quarter of the game, Ellington hit a three-point shot, which was the Lakers' first three-pointer of the game, and the Lakers' three-pointer in the first quarter was 10-of-0, and none of them scored. Edwards hit back with three points, Anthony made two free throws and one shot, Edwards made a foul and also made two free throws and one shot, the Lakers attacked and did not score, Edwards' three-point chase hit, 7 points in a row, and the Timberwolves led by 17 points. Knight defended for three seconds, James didn't score on free throws, and then didn't score on three-point shots, 2-of-9.
The Timberwolves countered quickly, and Russell hit a three-point shot that was 20 points off. Westbrook broke through to score a layup, Knight responded with two easy points, and Edwards made two foul shots, with a 22-point difference. Ellington hit three-point shots, Russell and Norwell scored, and the Timberwolves led by 23 points at 49-26. After the timeout, Anthony missed a layup, Vanderbilt dunked again, and Westbrook made two fouls and one shot.
Towns made 3 fouls, Howard hit two free throws, Anthony dunked, Vanderbilt interfered with the ball, the Lakers chased 7 points, Towns scored a foul, played 2+1, a 21-point difference. Munch again caused Vanderbilt to jam the ball, James counter-attacked, the Lakers chased a 17-point deficit, and the Timberwolves were suspended. After the timeout, Russell was blocked by James, James made two fouls and one shot, the Timberwolves did not score consecutively, Anthony made two fouls, the Lakers played 14-3, Edwards hit three consecutive points, Westbrook scored a layup, Anthony scored, Beverley made a basket, Edwards made two fouls, the Lakers still did not score, Edwards hit three points, 20 points in a single quarter, Anthony dunked, the Lakers trailed by 21 points 46-67 at halftime, Edwards scored 20 points in a single quarter, James scored 8 points on 3 of 12, The Lakers made it 21-of-21 on three-pointers at halftime, and Edwards hit five three-pointers alone.