By Greg Beecham AP Sports activities Author
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Anthony Davis had 27 factors, a season-high 25 rebounds and a career-high seven steals to guide the Los Angeles Lakers to a 120-109 victory over the shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening.
Davis added 5 assists and three blocked photographs in one of many greatest video games of his embellished profession. The nine-time All-Star, invited to a Minnesota lineup lacking its high two massive males and 4 regulars attributable to damage, grabbed 21 rebounds within the second half alone and led a 21-4 rally to begin the fourth quarter whereas The Lakers ran away. Their twelfth win in 17 video games.
“After we’re on the market having enjoyable, everybody’s confidence is excessive,” Davis stated. “After we’re speaking trash to the opposite crew, we’re holding one another accountable, and we’re simply taking part in the correct manner. We all know what it takes. It is simply taking part in that manner each evening. It is about consistency.
Davis is simply the eighth participant for the reason that 1982-83 season to have no less than 25 factors, 25 rebounds and 5 assists in a sport, in response to Sportrader. Nikola Jokic did it final season, becoming a member of a brief checklist that features Charles Barkley and Kevin Garnett.
“Ten offensive rebounds is loopy,” stated Austin Reeves, who scored 19 factors for Los Angeles. “I felt like all time we shot and missed, he was there to provide us one other likelihood by reacting aggressively, getting himself over the road.” Steal, I do not know. Thieves are loopy. Seven steals may be very, very spectacular.
LeBron James had 29 factors, 9 assists and eight rebounds because the Lakers snapped one other high crew on their six-game homestand with wins over Oklahoma Metropolis and Milwaukee. Los Angeles (36-30) is six video games over .500 for the primary time for the reason that last day of the 2021-22 common season.
Naz Reed scored 25 factors and hit 5 3-pointers in his first begin of the season for Minnesota, hitting 16 of his season-high 46 3-point makes an attempt. Reed had his second straight efficiency after scoring a career-high 34 towards Cleveland final Friday, however the Vols’ depleted inside protection could not cease Davis with out Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Cities.
“This crew is No. 2 within the West, and nonetheless crew,” Davis stated. “Clearly, they’re lacking key items of their crew, however they nonetheless have guys that may play, they usually nonetheless discover a method to win ballgames. We simply need to come out as a crew effort. and need to know the place we’re within the standings and the way essential this sport was, making an attempt to shut the hole within the standings.
Anthony Edwards additionally had 25 factors for the Wolves, who’ve misplaced 4 of six. Minnesota missed 9 photographs in a row to begin the fourth quarter whereas Los Angeles pulled away.
“The ball motion dried up just a little bit, nevertheless it was actually the offensive rebounding on the opposite finish of the ground that damage us extra within the fourth,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch stated. “I felt assured that we have been capable of come again, however so many second photographs, and it is troublesome at instances. … (Davis) ought to have dominated us. He was tall. He was tall. He had all that stuff. He was within the paint for seven, eight seconds each time they shot the ball. It’s simple to go to get it. However now we have to do a greater job to finish this.
James returned after sitting out with an damage for the ninth time this season because the Lakers shocked Milwaukee 123-122 on Friday evening behind D’Angelo Russell’s 44-point efficiency. Davis injured his left shoulder throughout the sport in a collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo, nevertheless it did not gradual him down.
Edwards performed by a hamstring damage, however Gobert sat out with a proper hand pressure. Gobert, who missed his third sport of the season, was fined $100,000 by the NBA earlier Sunday for a sequence of violations that questioned the integrity of NBA officers Friday.
Cities missed his third straight sport for Minnesota since being recognized with a torn meniscus in his left knee. The large man is prone to be sidelined till the postseason after surgical procedure.
Kyle Anderson additionally sat out with a sore proper shoulder, and Monte Morris missed his second straight sport with a sprained left hand.
Lakers swingman Cam Radish is out with a sprained proper ankle. It was the second additional sport he has missed since he returned from a month-long damage absence in late February.