LeBron James had 30 factors and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers claimed the seventh spot within the Western Conference playoffs with a grueling 108-102 extra time victory over the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves within the NBA’s play-in event Tuesday night time.
Dennis Schroder scored 21 factors and iced the win with two free throws with 8.4 seconds left for the Lakers, who will face second-seeded Memphis within the first spherical beginning Sunday.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 factors and Mike Conley hit three free throws with 0.1 seconds left in regulation to tie it for the Wolves, who will host New Orleans or Oklahoma City on Friday for the eighth spot and a first-round date with top-seeded Denver starting Sunday.
The Pelicans host the Thunder on Wednesday night time, and Minnesota should then beat the winner to succeed in the playoffs for less than the third time in 19 seasons.
Anthony Davis had 24 factors, 15 rebounds and one tremendously ill-advised foul on Conley, who scored 23 factors. Los Angeles nonetheless survived its back-and-forth assembly with Minnesota, which gave an impressed effort for the primary three quarters whereas enjoying with out starters Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.
Gobert is suspended for punching teammate Kyle Anderson throughout Minnesota’s regular-season finale towards New Orleans, whereas McDaniels is out indefinitely with a damaged hand after punching a wall in frustration Sunday.
Los Angeles lastly received it with protection, holding the Wolves to seven factors within the remaining 11 minutes from halfway by the fourth quarter whereas the Lakers rallied from a 15-point deficit within the second half. After main for a lot of the night time, Minnesota went scoreless for six full minutes.
Schroder drilled a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds to play in regulation, however the Wolves pressured extra time when Conley hit his free throws after Davis stepped on his foot after he had already launched a 3-point try.
Los Angeles took the lead for good on a 3-pointer on the opening possession of extra time by Rui Hachimura, who had 12 factors. The Wolves missed 11 consecutive photographs earlier than Anthony Edwards’ dunk with 2:36 left in extra time.
Edwards scored simply 9 factors — greater than 15 beneath his common — and left the court docket briefly within the second half to get tape on his left shoulder.
D’Angelo Russell had a nightmare sport for Los Angeles towards the group that traded him in February, scoring two factors on 1-of-9 taking pictures with eight assists. He was benched down the stretch in favor of Schroder, who got here by tremendously.
The sport was the Lakers’ first non-regular-season contest performed in entrance of a full residence crowd since James joined the franchise 5 seasons in the past. Los Angeles spent the 2020 championship run within the Florida bubble, performed in entrance of a half-full area in its first-round loss to Phoenix in 2021, and missed the playoffs totally in 2018 and 2022.
The Lakers hadn’t had a full crowd for non-regular season sport since April 2013, again when their area was nonetheless Staples Center.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch mentioned he had spent the previous two days “sorting through the wreckage, if you will,” of the Wolves’ eventful season finale, which left his group with out its greatest rim protector and its prime point-of-attack defender on James within the golf equipment’ latest matchups.
But Minnesota appeared higher than the Lakers from the beginning, leaping to an enormous early lead earlier than making a 14-2 run to shut the second quarter for a 60-49 halftime lead. The Wolves’ lead lastly dwindled after Towns left the sport with 5 fouls early within the fourth quarter.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: McDaniels attended the sport. … There was a minor confrontation after the first-quarter buzzer when Edwards stood over Hachimura below the ring. The Lakers took exception in a quick argument that ended with technical fouls for Edwards and Hachimura.
Lakers: Schroder returned from a two-game harm absence. … Tristan Thompson and Shaq Harrison have been in uniform for the primary time after signing final Sunday. Neither veteran performed. … The Lakers have received essentially the most playoff video games in NBA historical past, however the franchise has by no means confronted the Grizzlies within the postseason.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host Pelicans or Thunder on Friday.
Lakers: At Grizzlies on Sunday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
