For the first time so far this year, there are more wins than losses in the Lakers’ locker. The Los Angeles team managed to place itself with a record of 39-38 after defeating the Timberwolves 111-123, definitively demonstrating the way in which they have been growing throughout the season and taking another step in their fight to be in the playoffs. And it is that with this result those from Ham have surpassed Minnesota in the standings, rising to seventh place that would make them play the first play-in game at home and also the second if they needed it.
The Lakers found themselves down 13 in the early stages of the third quarter, but with a 2-24 run they not only turned the situation around but also managed to open a gap that they would no longer let escape. Despite the attempts of the locals, the Californians put themselves in the hands of Anthony Davis and he did not fail them, scoring 17 of his points in the last quarter, he responded to each arreón from Finch’s team and ensured that the victory would travel to The Angels.
In general, AD was clearly the great dominator of the duel, once again putting his best version at the service of his team and becoming the owner of the Target Center painting. La Ceja finished with 38 points, 17 rebounds and 2 blocks, supporting some Lakers that grew again around him and that showed that the better their center is, the better they are. His ability to punish both from the pick & roll and clarified how after an offensive rebound made him overcome everything the Timberwolves tried to stop him, making him the hero of the night and the figure who supports the best version of his team.
“You always need a core force to lead the charge, and in the case of our team that is Davis,” commented Darvin Ham. “When he comes out that aggressive, we are able to find him, and he doesn’t hesitate to put pressure on the rival paint, we tend to be very successful.”
And it is that the aggressiveness of AD opened opportunities for his teammates, of which five also finished in double figures. LeBron James, with 18 points, was second in scoring and also contributed 10 rebounds, while D’Angelo Russell, author of 12, shone above all as a generator, starting many plays with a direct block from Davis and making his team play start from there. The former Timberwolves player finished with 10 assists, half of which went to the center.
Minnesota, for its part, lived its best stretches in the second quarter, in which Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert added 10 points each to give their team an advantage that, however, did not last long. Conley and Towns, with 25 and 23 points in total, led the team in scoring, but they missed the help of men like Anthony Edwards, who stayed at 11 after signing a 4/16 shot, or the injured Naz Reid, whose momentum from the bench is usually essential for Finch’s men.
(Cover photo: David Berding/Getty Images)
