The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off their 2024-25 NBA season with a victory.

In their season opener at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the Lakers overcame the Minnesota Timberwolves with a final score of 110-103.

Anthony Davis was a dominant force for the Lakers, excelling on both ends of the court. He posted impressive numbers with 36 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and one steal. Rui Hachimura contributed 18 points along with five rebounds, while LeBron James added 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

This game not only marked the beginning of the regular season for new head coach JJ Redick but also saw rookie Bronny James make his debut, playing for three minutes in the second quarter. He made history by joining his father on the court—becoming the first father-son duo to compete in the same NBA game.

“Family always comes first. I’ve missed a lot of time because of this league, so to share this moment with my son is one of the greatest gifts I’ve received,” LeBron James expressed after the game. “I couldn’t be prouder of him; he’s my lifeline.”

Lakers vs. Timberwolves game highlights

Final score: Lakers 110, Timberwolves 103

Lakers respond after Timberwolves threaten

The Timberwolves managed to narrow the Lakers’ lead to just four points, 85-81, with 10:38 still to play. The Lakers quickly responded with a 6-0 run, pushing their advantage back to double digits at 91-81 with 8:36 remaining. This run concluded with an alley-oop dunk by Jaxson Hayes, who had also just blocked a three-point attempt from Mike Conley. Hayes played a vital role off the bench, contributing 10 points, four rebounds, and one block in 14 minutes.

End of third quarter: Lakers lead 82-74

The Timberwolves committed 15 turnovers in the first three quarters, allowing the Lakers to score 17 points off those mistakes. However, Minnesota trailed by only eight points heading into the fourth quarter.

The Lakers have demonstrated more physicality, dominating the paint with a score of 54-28. Los Angeles has also secured 14 offensive rebounds compared to Minnesota’s eight.

Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 19 points and five rebounds, while Anthony Davis tops the Lakers with a remarkable 25 points.

Anthony Davis records a double-double

Anthony Davis is showcasing his skills in the Lakers’ season opener, achieving a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, accompanied by three assists, one steal, and one block with 2:30 left in the third quarter.

Watch: Anthony Davis blocks Rudy Gobert

In an outstanding defensive moment, Anthony Davis denied Rudy Gobert’s dunk attempt. With the Lakers leading 64-50 late in the third quarter, Davis executed a spectacular block against the reigning defensive player of the year.

Halftime: Lakers 55, Timberwolves 42

The Lakers headed into halftime with a 55-42 lead over the Timberwolves, having led by as many as 19 points in the first half. Both teams have hit approximately 41% of their field goals, but the Lakers have taken 14 more shots due to the Timberwolves’ 11 turnovers.

Los Angeles leads in offensive rebounds, 10 to five, and has outscored Minnesota 36-18 in the paint.

Anthony Edwards stands out for the Timberwolves, being the only player in double digits with 14 points (5-of-11 FG, 3-of-7 3PT) and three rebounds. Julius Randle, playing in his debut for Minnesota, has contributed five points.

For the Lakers, Anthony Davis leads with 12 points, followed by Rui Hachimura with 11 and LeBron James with eight. Bronny James did not score during his three-minute stint in the first half.

LeBron James throws down a dunk

Entering his 22nd NBA season, LeBron James proved he still possesses athleticism by executing a powerful dunk off a pass from Austin Reaves, extending the Lakers’ lead to 53-39 with 2:14 left in the second quarter. LeBron will turn 40 this December.

Bronny James makes his NBA debut

LOS ANGELES — As Bronny James receives the ball near the 3-point line, the crowd reacts with disappointment when he opts for a pass instead of attempting a shot.

Following a Lakers timeout, the father-son duo took the court together again for 1:36.

Bronny was credited with a tipped shot—a block by Rudy Gobert—and grabbed an offensive rebound.

More highlights to come. After the timeout, the crowd anticipates more involvement from them.

“Ohhhhhhh” — The crowd reacted as Bronny missed an open three-pointer with about 1:40 left in the quarter.

Bronny then exited the game. He recorded no points from his two field goal attempts.

Historic moment: LeBron and Bronny play together

LeBron and Bronny James have made history.

Bronny made his NBA debut in the Lakers’ opener against the Timberwolves, joining his father on the court with 4:00 left in the second quarter while the Lakers held a 51-37 lead. This marks the first instance of a father and son playing together in the NBA.

Rookie Dalton Knecht shines in debut

Dalton Knecht, selected as the 17th pick in the 2024 draft, has made a strong impression in his debut, contributing to the Lakers’ success off the bench. He hit a 3-pointer to help extend the Lakers’ lead to 10 points at 37-27, contributing to a 14-5 scoring run. In 10 minutes, he has scored five points and added one rebound and one assist.

LeBron James takes a break

LOS ANGELES —

LeBron leaves the court and sits next to Bronny at the end of the bench.

If sharing the court isn’t possible, at least they can share the bench.

Lakers lead by 7 points in the second quarter

The Lakers went on a strong 10-1 run, achieving their largest lead of the matchup at 34-27.

In the paint, the Lakers have been in control, outscoring the Timberwolves 22-10. They’ve also been effective in grabbing offensive rebounds, pulling down eight compared to the Timberwolves’ four, allowing the Lakers to attempt 14 more shots.

LeBron and Bronny James: Top Moments

End of first quarter: Timberwolves 23, Lakers 22

The Lakers had a maximal lead of six points during the first quarter, but the Timberwolves ended the period with an 11-4 run, giving them their first lead of the game at 23-22. The Lakers have missed their last five shots.

Anthony Edwards topped the Timberwolves with eight points, while Jaden McDaniels added four. The Timberwolves have a shooting percentage of 44.4% from the field and are 1-of-4 from beyond the arc.

As for the Lakers, Anthony Davis leads with six points, and LeBron James has four. The team is shooting 30.8% overall and 2-of-11 from three-point range.

Fans chant ‘We want Bronny!’

LOS ANGELES — With Anthony Davis preparing for a second free throw about two minutes before the first quarter ends, a handful of fans begin to chant, “We want Bronny! We want Bronny!”

So far, luck hasn’t favored Lakers fans.

Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, and Jaxson Hayes have been the first players off the Lakers’ bench.

Rudy Gobert signs extension with Timberwolves

Just before the Minnesota Timberwolves faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, they secured a three-year, $110 million contract extension with center Rudy Gobert, according to a source familiar with the deal who requested to remain anonymous as the extension is not yet official.

Gobert, who has won the Defensive Player of the Year award four times, is now under contract with the Timberwolves until the end of the 2027-28 season, totaling an impressive $153.8 million.

Following the Timberwolves’ trade of Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, ensuring Gobert’s contract beyond this season became essential for a team aspiring to vie for the Western Conference title. The Timberwolves made it to the conference finals last season before falling to Dallas. — Jeff Zillgitt

LeBron James throws down a dunk

The Lakers hold an 11-7 lead against the Timberwolves with 6:44 left in the opening quarter. Minnesota has committed three turnovers in the first five minutes, which has allowed the Lakers to score four points. In one notable moment, Anthony Davis intercepted the ball from Mike Conley, leading to a fast-break dunk by LeBron James.

Ken Griffey Jr. and his dad share a moment with LeBron and Bronny

What connects the James and Griffey families? Both feature father-son pairs who have played together in games.

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. made history on August 31, 1990, becoming the first father-son duo to play in the same MLB game. Similarly, LeBron James and Bronny James aim to achieve this milestone on the basketball court during Tuesday’s season opener against the Timberwolves.

The four shared a moment on the court before the Lakers kicked off their season and took a photo to capture the occasion.

When is the Timberwolves vs. Lakers game?

The game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 22, at 10:00 p.m. ET, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Where is the Timberwolves vs. Lakers game held?

The Lakers will host the Timberwolves in downtown Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena.

How to watch the Timberwolves vs. Lakers game

The matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers will be shown on TNT as part of an NBA double-header. You can also stream it on Sling.

Catch the NBA on TNT with a Sling subscription

NBA games today: Opening night schedule

Below are the tip-off times and TV details for the games on opening night:

All times are in Eastern

• Knicks vs. Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
• Timberwolves vs. Lakers, 10:00 p.m. on TNT

Lakers’ starting lineup for 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?

This matchup between the Lakers and Timberwolves is packed with stars. However, much of the attention will be on rookie Bronny James. Though he’s on the roster as the season opens, it’s uncertain whether he will actually get on the court.

James Williams provides insight into what we know about Bronny and reviews his preseason statistics.

Bronny James preseason stats

Bronny took part in all six preseason games for the Lakers, averaging 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game over 16.2 minutes.

In the final preseason game, the Lakers suffered a significant defeat, falling 74-132 to the Golden State Warriors.

On Friday, James tallied 17 points, 4 rebounds, three steals, and one block during a career-high 35 minutes on the court.

LeBron James Teases Rookie Son Bronny

While Bronny James is famous for having LeBron as his father, he is still experiencing typical rookie treatment—even from LeBron!

This lighthearted moment was orchestrated by Nike, which unveiled a commercial featuring both LeBron and Bronny on the Lakers’ opening day, showcasing LeBron’s playful side.

Let’s hope Bronny had a reliable ride as he headed to the Lakers’ season opener on Tuesday. — Josh Peter

JJ Redick’s Thoughts Before His Big Debut

While LeBron and Bronny James command attention, the spotlight also shines on Redick, who is making his coaching debut tonight—particularly as it marks his first game coaching at the Lakers’ home ground, Crypto.com Arena. (Preseason games took place elsewhere.)

So what was going through his mind about two hours before the game?

“I just had a stir fry in the locker room,’’ Redick said, smiling. “Honestly, I’m pretty stoked about that right now, just looking forward to eating.”

“But whatever I envisioned in my previous career is out the window now. This is my role now. I’m a coach, and tonight is about our team, our staff, and the work we’ve done in preparation.”

LeBron James Takes His Time for Historic Moment with Bronny

LeBron James indicated he’s not rushing to share the court with his son, Bronny.

“It will happen whenever it’s meant to be,” he commented following shootaround, as reported by ESPN. “Whether it’s tonight or later, it will come. It’s been a pleasure—working with him in practice during preseason and showing him what being a professional is really about.”

Bronny has participated in all six preseason games for the Lakers.

Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. to Attend Lakers Game

When LeBron and Bronny take the court together for the Lakers, it will be a historic moment, echoing what former MLB greats Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. achieved as the first father-son duo in Major League Baseball. They will be present as the Lakers launch their 2024-25 regular season against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“First in baseball, now first in basketball—it means a lot for us to be there,” said Griffey Jr. on MLB Network Radio earlier this week. “We made history, and now we can witness it.”

Bronny remarked that having the Griffeys there is “unbelievable,” saying, “Only two families have done this, so it’s going to be an incredible experience considering their achievements.”

Find out more from Steve Gardner.

Final Season for ‘Inside the NBA’

This Tuesday marks the last initial game of the season for TNT’s acclaimed “Inside the NBA” team, featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal—a true jewel in sports broadcasting.

Read Jeff Zillgitt’s full column about how this team has become a significant part of the NBA’s identity through their entertaining and insightful programming.

LeBron James Commences His 22nd Season

LeBron James is gearing up for his 22nd season, which ties him with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history. He is one of only six players to have participated in over 20 seasons, alongside Carter (22), Dirk Nowitzki (21), Kevin Garnett (21), Kevin Willis (21), and Robert Parish (21).

Timberwolves vs. Lakers Historical Matchup

In their storied rivalry, the Timberwolves and Lakers have faced off 129 times in the regular season, with Los Angeles leading the series 85-44. They have met twice in the playoffs, in 2003 and 2004, with the Lakers winning both series 4-2.

Predictions for the NBA Season

The analysts at YSL News Network are making forecasts for the upcoming season, including which team might win 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

Candidates for NBA MVP

Who might emerge this year as the next player to join the MVP conversation like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did? Jeff Zillgitt analyzes the top contenders.

NBA Power Rankings

Here’s how every NBA team ranks based on their chances of winning the championship as the 2024-25 regular season kicks off. All odds come from 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 Suns (+2000)
• Cleveland Cavaliers (+3500)
• Memphis Grizzlies (+3500)

Health Update on Bronny James

On July 24, 2023, Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest during a training session at USC. He has since discussed the incident and his recovery process.