A team that’s struggled all year to close games, Minnesota found a way to do so when it needed it most Friday in Minneapolis.

Tied 103-103 in the final five minutes of a game in which it could never create separation, Anthony Edwards delivered two minutes of brilliant offense.

First, the guard hit a 3-pointer over a mild contest to put Minnesota back in front. A minute later, he drove to collapse the defense before kicking out to Naz Reid, who buried a triple of his own. Then with Minnesota up five with 2:30 to play, Edwards maneuvered his way through the lane for a layup.

Finally, with Minnesota up six and just more than a minute to play, the guard hit a long jumper to effectively put the game on ice. His mini surge powered the Wolves to a 116-104 victory at Target Center.

Minnesota leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

While Edwards was generating buckets, the Lakers were doing nothing of the sort on the other end.

With Luka Doncic battling a stomach flu, LeBron James carried the load for much of the night for Los Angeles. He finished with 38 points but couldn’t put any pressure on the rim down the stretch. Minnesota repeatedly doubled Doncic and James in the closing minutes, leaving Rui Hachimura open.

Hachimura missed a pair of wide open 3-point attempts and turned the ball over.

Edwards finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Minnesota trailed by four at the half, but the Timberwolves had more juice than the Lakers in the third frame, delivering a series of second-effort plays that felt as though they’d turn the tide heavily in Minnesota’s favor and allow the Wolves to build a cushion.

But the Lakers seemingly had a response every time, usually in the form of a triple.

Minnesota led by two heading to the fourth and extended the lead to seven midway through the frame, only to have James bury a couple triples.

Julius Randle was largely excellent for Minnesota. He was aggressive offensively and pushed the pace whenever the opportunity presented itself. That was where Minnesota did much of its damage on a night where it again struggled in the half court for the final three quarters.

Minnesota made five of its first six shots to open the game using an egalitarian approach that benefited from the the attention the Lakers constantly pay to Edwards.

Jaden McDaniels was the primary attacker early. He was excellent throughout, finishing with a team-high 30 points while defending the ill Doncic.