EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Two new players entered the starting lineup Friday for the Lakers. The results, though, were all too familiar.

LeBron James led a spirited effort that wasn’t quite enough as the understaffed Lakers eventually fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 111-102, in Minneapolis.

Anthony Davis sat out because of tightness in his lower back, creating a massive void on offense and defense. Or so everyone thought.

James scored 28 points and Russell Westbrook added 18 in a new role off the bench. If only the NBA’s lowest-scoring offense could find enough points elsewhere to contend down the stretch.

The Lakers fell to 0-5, dangerously close to an 0-7 mark that would tie the worst start in their 75-year history. Only one other NBA team is still winless this season — Sacramento.

“I think our offense is just harming us right now,” James said. “Defensively, we had a great game plan. Went out and competed, gave ourselves a chance. A couple of possessions didn’t go our way.”

James pledged to be more aggressive for Friday’s game after trying to set up teammates instead of himself in Wednesday’s loss to Denver. He accomplished that and more, setting an NBA record with his 1,135th career 20-point game. Karl Malone had 1,134.

Westbrook came off the bench for the first time since 2008, his rookie season. He didn’t shoot well, missing 11 of 17 attempts, but it made sense to try the lineup change after the Lakers had plummeted to dead last in the NBA in offensive efficiency.

Lakers Coach Darvin Ham cited a desire to try separating James, obviously a ball-dominant player, from Westbrook on different units.

“[Westbrook’s] superpower is being able to dictate with the ball in his hands,” Ham said.

Westbrook had 10 points in the second quarter, including eight in a row, at one point, for the Lakers as they went into halftime with a 52-52 tie.

“He was great,” James said. “He definitely catapulted us.”

“It’s different obviously for me…. From Day one, I mentioned I’m a guy that’s willing to do whatever for the team,” said Westbrook.

Westbrook had five turnovers, and the Lakers were way too careless as a team with 22 turnovers that led to 25 Minnesota points.

“The biggest thing to me, the most glaring stat, are the turnovers,” Ham said. “We have to do a better job of valuing possessions.”

The Lakers’ 3-point shooting was historically poor through four games and improved somewhat to 31% against Minnesota. Austin Reaves’ 3-point shot brought the Lakers within five points with 2:25 to play.

They couldn’t quite catch the Timberwolves from there.

Lonnie Walker IV, a source of scoring in the first week of the season, managed only six points Friday. He missed all four of his 3-point shots.

Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 21 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who improved to 4-2.

As for Davis, his goal before the season was to play all 82 regular-season games. The oft-injured big man made it through only four.

He was initially listed as questionable for the game but was downgraded to out about an hour before tip-off. He initially hurt his back a week earlier after taking a hard fall while trying to guard Clipper forward Kawhi Leonard.

Ham said he was hopeful Davis would play in the Lakers’ next game, Sunday against Denver.