The primary row of seats straight throughout from the benches was empty initially of the second half. As an alternative of watching the sport courtside, followers had been attending a celebration for Netflix’s “Running Point,” a comedy impressed by Jeanie Buss that premiered Thursday.
Early within the third quarter, LeBron James flew into a number of the empty seats, flying at Naz Reid, who had an open take a look at a three-pointer. James brought on simply sufficient of a distraction that Reid missed, the Lakers pushing the opposite means and scoring as James untangled himself from a collapsed row of chairs.
It was one other second, one other play by James for a Lakers group that has abruptly turn into one of many NBA’s grittiest — a gaggle that fights on protection and may grind out wins the place its offense isn’t at its greatest like Thursday, when it held on for a 111-102 win.
James completed with 33 factors, 17 rebounds and 6 assists. Austin Reaves scored 23 factors.
The Lakers (36-21) raced to a 23-point lead in opposition to Minnesota, dominating from the tip due to stellar play that has made them the league’s best group on protection over the previous 20-plus video games.
Minnesota (32-28), nonetheless, discovered its footing after dropping Anthony Edwards to an ejection halfway by the third quarter. With out Edwards, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert — the latter two due to harm — the Timberwolves ticked up their physicality and attacked, whittling the Lakers’ lead down to 3 factors.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, tries to move round leaping Minnesota guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) within the first half Thursday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
Luka Doncic makes a three-pointer simply earlier than the shot clock expires throughout the fourth quarter in opposition to the Timberwolves.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
However two buckets from Luka Doncic, together with one absurd three-pointer made as he fell out of bounds, gave the Lakers sufficient cushion in a sport that, fittingly, ended with them having to battle for each level.
The Lakers’ defensive effort got here on the right evening, one other one the place Doncic’s three wasn’t falling and the newly acquired star struggled to search out his offensive rhythm.
The remainder of the Lakers slowly wore down. All the things from open threes, to layups to free throws all failed to interrupt an invisible seal positioned on the rim within the fourth.
The group made simply 5 of 20 makes an attempt from the sphere within the fourth quarter, and whereas the Lakers shot 46 free throws, they made solely 32.
Enjoying for the sixth time since being traded from Dallas, Doncic made only one three-pointer, lacking eight, on his strategy to ending with 21 factors on six-for-20 capturing from the sphere. Since becoming a member of the Lakers, he’s capturing 11 of 49 (22.4%) from three-point vary.
The Lakers additionally noticed Rui Hachimura depart the sport within the third after scoring on a one-handed dunk. He instantly grimaced and went again to the locker room and didn’t return due to a left-knee pressure.
The Lakers play Friday in opposition to the Clippers.
