MINNEAPOLIS — The phrase “a game of inches” is a sports cliché that encapsulated the Lakers’ 108-106 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday at Target Center.

After trailing by seven after a Mike Conley 3-pointer to put the Timberwolves up 107-100 with 35.1 seconds remaining, the Lakers started to piece together a run that made Minnesota fight to maintain its lead.

The freshly-turned 39-year-old LeBron James, who was battling through a non-COVID illness that had his status as questionable entering the matchup, made an and-1 turnaround jumper over Jaden McDaniels that cut the Lakers’ deficit to five.

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McDaniels was also assessed a technical foul, with Austin Reaves making the technical free throw and James making his free throw to cut the Timberwolves’ lead to 107-104 with 30 seconds left.

Conley missed a 3-pointer on the Timberwolves’ next possession, with Anthony Davis grabbing the defensive rebound and throwing a hit ahead pass to James, who appeared to make a 3-pointer that would’ve tied the game at 107 with three seconds remaining.

But the officials on the floor ruled James’ shot a 2-pointer, saying his right foot was on the 3-point line, meaning the Timberwolves still had a 107-106 lead. And even after a review, with James trying to show the officials that his foot was behind the line, the call stood.

The Lakers had to play the foul game from there, with Anthony Edwards making one of two free throws with one second remaining to give the Timberwolves a two-point lead to keep the Lakers’ hopes alive.