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Lakers coach JJ Redick instructs gamers from the sideline in the course of the second half Friday.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Instances)
After lamenting continued third-quarter woes in Tuesday’s season-opening loss, the Lakers responded by profitable the third body 40-31 in opposition to the Timberwolves. They fired the opening salvo, beginning the third quarter on an 8-5 run punctuated by a Hachimura dunk that pressured Minnesota to name a timeout.
Redick breathed a sigh of aid.
“I think for the first time in Lakers history, the other team called the first timeout in the third quarter,” Redick mentioned sarcastically. “Had a nice ‘all right,’ ‘all right’ with the group. ‘All right, group. We did it.’ Maybe that’s the blueprint, just the coaches, just changing the routine [a] bit.”
Guard Austin Reaves, who completed with 25 factors, 11 assists, seven rebounds and only one turnover, mentioned the halftime speak consisted solely of some slides explaining performs the group executed properly and some that wanted to get cleaned up.
The Lakers turned the ball over on an offensive foul on their first possession, however Doncic settled the group down with a floater within the paint on the subsequent possesion.
Doncic had his quietest scoring quarter within the third with solely six factors, however he dished 4 assists as Reaves and Hachimura exploded for 11 and 12 factors, respectively. They helped the Lakers develop a five-point halftime lead into a snug 14-point benefit at the same time as Doncic sat the ultimate 4 minutes of the quarter.
However the Slovenian star remained engaged, even with a wrap round his midsection. On the Lakers’ closing defensive possession, he stood up and waved his arms to the gang as the remainder of his Lakers teammates joined him on their ft. When Jarred Vanderbilt’s emphatic block on a Julius Randle shot ended the quarter, Doncic was the primary Lakers participant to dash off the bench and greet his teammates coming off the court docket.
