NBA: Los Angeles Lakers qualify for the playoffs

After a movie-quality end to regular time, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-102 in overtime on Tuesday night to earn seventh place in the Western Conference following the playoff qualifying tournament. NBA playoffs.

The Lakers rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit thanks to the brilliance of LeBron James who, with seconds left in the game, drew several Timberwolves defenders into the key before handing over to Dennis Schroder left alone. The latter had a three-point shot that gave the hosts a 98-95 lead with 1.4 seconds left.

Mike Conley, however, did not intend to return home anytime soon. With a tenth of a second on the clock, he was hooked by Anthony Davis and inherited three free throws. Regular as a clock, Conley managed his three shots to send all these beautiful people to overtime.

The extension was the business of the Lakers. They scored 10 points and only allowed 4 to reach the spring ball.

LeBron led the Lakers offense with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. His teammate Anthony Davis was dominant in the key with 15 rebounds, to which are added a harvest of 24 points.

Dennis Schroder was also good, finishing the night with 21 points and three-for-four on his three-pointers.

The Lakers were dominant in several aspects of the game, such as rebounds (48 v. 36), points in the bottle (48 v. 32) and points on the break-attack (27 v. 15).

It’s the first time in history that all four California teams have made the playoffs in the same season (Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Warriors). It is also the 16th time in the last 20 years that “King James” has qualified there.

On the Minnesota side, Karl-Anthony Towns tried somehow to whip the troops, but his harvest of 24 points and 11 rebounds was not enough.

Mike Conley had a good game with 23 points, but the same can’t be said for Anthony Edwards, who only had nine points despite 43 minutes of playing time. The Timberwolves winger shot for a miserable rate 3 for 17, including none in nine attempts from the three-point line.

The Timberwolves will now face the winner of the duel between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans which will be played on Wednesday in the hope of obtaining the 8th and last place giving access to the playoffs.

For their part, the Lakers will cross swords with the Memphis Grizzlies, ranked 2nd, in the first round of playoffs.