Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, left, and center Rudy Gobert (27) defend during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards shoots as Lakers guard Max Christie, right, defends during the first half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards celebrates after scoring and drawing a foul during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell shoots in front of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Lakers head coach JJ Redick, right, talks with star Anthony Davis during the first half of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura drives as Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid defends during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers star Anthony Davis goes up for a shot during the second half of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels defends during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, left, works toward the basket as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the first half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guards Donte DiVincenzo, left, and Rob Dillingham celebrate after a play during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, top, looks to pass the ball as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the first half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle reacts after missing a shot during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards reach for the ball during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers star Anthony Davis reacts after missing a shot during the second half of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham defends during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid gestures to a teammate after making a 3-point shot during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers star Anthony Davis shoots in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards reacts after missing a shot during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent drives as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards defends during the second half of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, left, and Lakers center Christian Koloko pursue a loose ball during the first half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert handles the ball as Lakers center Christian Koloko defends during the first half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves tries to get to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert defends during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker reacts after a call by a referee during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura handles the ball during the second half of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Lakers star Anthony Davis handles the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert defends during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, tries to work toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels defends during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. Reaves had 18 points, six rebounds and five assists in his return to the lineup, but the Lakers lost for the eighth time in their past 11 games, 97-87. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves reacts after missing a shot during the second half of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura drives as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid defends during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle celebrates after a basket made by center Rudy Gobert (not shown) during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Lakers players sit on the bench during the final minutes of their loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, left, and center Rudy Gobert (27) defend during the second half on Friday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
MINNEAPOLIS — The Lakers entered Friday optimistic about the benefits of a rare four-day break from games ahead of their road matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But the reality of their 97-87 loss to the Timberwolves also revealed one of the downsides of having a lengthier break: rust.
The Lakers’ effort, especially defensively, was evident for most of Friday night’s game at the Target Center. But when it came to their half-court offense, they struggled to get out of their own way, shooting 38% and committing a season-high 22 turnovers in their eighth loss in the past 11 games.
“I’ll give them some credit, that’s what they do,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of the Timberwolves’ stifling defense. “And not only do they have the physical makeup on the perimeter, but they know that they can be aggressive because then there’s [Rudy] Gobert behind them.”
The Lakers committed 11 first-quarter turnovers that led directly to the Timberwolves scoring 16 points, helping Minnesota take a 32-23 lead going into the second.
The Lakers’ turnovers total after the first period was the same amount or more than they finished with in eight of 24 games entering Friday. They turned the ball over on their first possession of the second, giving them 12 giveaways in just over 12 minutes of game clock.
“A lot of that the first quarter was my fault,” said guard Austin Reaves, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous five games because of a bruised left pelvis. “Not having us organized. Not being on the court the last two weeks, I thought left a little indecision in my mind with some stuff that we could have been doing. I got to be better there.”
Even when they took better care of the ball, the timing of some of their giveaways slowed the momentum they started to build after getting defensive stops: Anthony Davis mishandled the ball after blocking a shot, directing leading to a Naz Reid 3-pointer that extended Minnesota’s lead to 74-61 after the Lakers (13-11) had scored seven unanswered points.
Reaves sent a pass into the second row of the Timberwolves’ bench early in the fourth quarter, and Rob Dillingham knocked down a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put Minnesota ahead 80-72.
Minnesota’s Mike Conley missed a 3-pointer and Rui Hachimura grabbed the rebound for the Lakers, but Julius Randle stole the ball and quickly fed Jaden McDaniels for a layup and an 89-82 lead with 2:03 left.
“It’s interesting because I think there’s control of the game that you can take or relinquish,” Redick said. “And it felt like they had control of the game. And anytime we got close to sort of being able to be in a position where we could potentially regain control, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot. Honestly, with turnovers a lot.”
And the Lakers’ turnovers were exacerbated by their poor shot-making: they shot just 38.4% from the field (33 for 86) and 28.6% from behind the arc (10 for 35).
The Lakers have scored at least 110 points just twice in their last 10 games after crossing that threshold in 12 of their first 15 contests.
“Got to score,” Davis said. “Getting good looks. We haven’t been shooting the ball from 3 well. Just got to make shots. We’re getting great looks. We’re generating open 3s, generating open looks for our guys. We just got to be confident enough to make them.”
The Lakers didn’t score more than 25 points in any quarter on Friday, making it eight consecutive quarters when they didn’t reach the 25-point threshold in a quarter against the Timberwolves, who routed them on Dec. 2 in Minneapolis.
“You have to trust the process of running good offense,” Redick said, “and getting good looks and trust that those shots will, in the aggregate, go in more.”
Davis led the Lakers with 23 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, but he also had four turnovers.
Reaves finished with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes. Max Christie was the only other Laker to score in double figures, finishing with 15 points, but he also had four turnovers.
Minnesota converted the Lakers’ turnovers into 27 points.
“Can’t expect to win a game like that,” Davis said. “Twenty-two plays that we didn’t get a shot on goal. We did enough defensively. Just didn’t do enough offensively.”
Anthony Edwards had 23 points and six rebounds to lead Minnesota.
Randle (21 points, five rebounds), McDaniels (18 points, nine rebounds, five steals and two blocked shots) and Rudy Gobert (12 points, 13 rebounds) also made significant contributions for the Timberwolves (13-11), who won for the fifth time in six games.
