Anthony Davis puts on a dominant performance on both ends of the floor for the Lakers
With 27 points, a career-best seven steals, and a season-high 25 rebounds, Anthony Davis led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 120-109 victory over the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
Davis had one of his most productive performances of his illustrious career, adding 5 assists and 3 blocked shots. The nine-time All-Star dominated a Minnesota squad that was missing four regulars and its top two big men due to injury. He pulled down 21 rebounds in the second half alone and spearheaded a 21-4 comeback to start the fourth quarter, which helped the Lakers secure their 12th victory in their previous 17 games.
“Everyone’s confidence is high when we’re out having fun,” Davis remarked. “We’re keeping each other accountable and just playing the proper way when we talk trash to the other team. We are aware of the requirements. It simply comes down to playing that manner consistently every single night.
According to Sportradar, Davis is just the fifth player since the 1982–83 campaign to have at least 25 points, 25 rebounds, and five assists in a game. Last season, Nikola Jokic achieved it, adding his name to an exclusive group that also included Kevin Garnett and Charles Barkley.
The Los Angeles player who scored 19 points, Austin Reaves, commented, “Ten offensive rebounds is crazy.” “I felt like whenever we missed a shot, he was there to bring himself to the line and create an offensive rebound to give us a second chance. The thefts, I’m not sure. The thefts are absurd. Seven thefts is an incredibly outstanding feat.
Following victories against Oklahoma City and Milwaukee during their six-game homestand, the Lakers defeated yet another elite squad led by LeBron James, who finished with 29 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Six games above is Los Angeles (36-30).500 for the first time since the 2021–22 regular season’s last day.
In his first start of the season, Naz Reid scored twenty-five points and drained five 3-pointers for Minnesota, which made 16 of its 46 3-point attempts, a season high. Reid put on another fantastic performance, having scored a career-high 34 points against Cleveland last Friday. However, without Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Towns, the Wolves’ thinnest interior defense was unable to stop Davis.
Davis remarked, “This team is still a good team and is ranked second in the West.” Despite the obvious absence of important players, they still have players who can produce and manage to win games. Regardless of where we are in the standings and how crucial this game was, we simply wanted to perform as a team and try to close the gap.
For the Wolves, who have dropped four out of six games, Anthony Edwards added 25 points as well. Los Angeles pulled away in the fourth quarter as Minnesota missed nine straight baskets.
The offensive rebounds at the other end of the court affected us more in the fourth quarter, according to Minnesota coach Chris Finch, even though ball movement slowed down a little bit. “I had faith that we could rally, but there were a lot of second chances, and it was tough at that point. Davis ought to have dominated us.” He was large. He was quite long. He possessed all that was mentioned. Every time they shot the ball, he spent seven or eight seconds in the paint. Getting it is not difficult. However, we must work harder to remove him from the picture.
With D’Angelo Russell scoring 44 points to lead the Lakers to a stunning victory against Milwaukee 123-122 on Friday night, James made his comeback after missing nine games this season due to injury. In a collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo during that game, Davis hurt his left shoulder, but it didn’t appear to slow him down.
Edwards persevered despite an ankle issue, while Gobert was sidelined due to discomfort in his right hamstring. The NBA penalized Gobert $100,000 earlier on Sunday for a series of violations that called into doubt the integrity of the NBA’s Friday officiating. Gobert was missing his third game of the season.
Following his diagnosis of a damaged meniscus in his left knee, Towns has missed his team’s last three games. After surgery, the big man is probably going to be out until the postseason.
In addition, Monte Morris missed his second consecutive game due to a strained left hamstring, while Kyle Anderson was out due to right shoulder soreness.
Lakers swingman Cam Reddish was unable to play due to a right ankle strain. Since his return in late February following a month-long injury layoff, he has missed two more games.
Lakers are 8th seed in the western conference with 36-30 record https://x.com/nba/status/1767050236793344363?s=46
Lakers need to win more matches to secure playoff spot currently they are one win behind the 6th seed Phoenix Suns.
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