LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis wasn’t even looking at LeBron James’ kick-ahead pass. But like much of the rest of this evening’s game against the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves, things worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers despite their recklessness.
With the ball momentarily loose, Davis scrambled to collect it and swiftly fired a one-handed return bounce pass to a streaking James, who had darted out toward the rim. James caught the pass in stride and found Austin Reaves stationed in the right corner in front of the Lakers’ bench. Reaves buried the open shot, pushing the Lakers’ lead to 16 points, 112-96, midway through the fourth quarter.
Lakers players on the court and the bench did their trademark “freeze” celebration. PA announcer Lawrence Tanter bellowed, “Threeeeeeeeee!” The triple capped a 21-4 Lakers run that iced the game.
AR from the corner. 💦 pic.twitter.com/CHZGwGqNJa
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 11, 2024
Sunday’s 120-109 win over the Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena wasn’t always efficient or aesthetically pleasing — the Lakers had 21 turnovers and attempted 29 free throws — but they found a way to wrap up an eventful week by winning for the third time in four games against some of the NBA’s best teams. Los Angeles beat three teams ranked in the top three of their conference — the Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee Bucks and Timberwolves — in the last seven days. In between, they lost to the Sacramento Kings, the West’s current No. 7 seed and a team that’s had their number the past two seasons.
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The win bumped the Lakers to 36-30, marking the first time they’ve been six games or more above .500 this season. It’s also the first time they’ve eclipsed that mark since May 16, 2021, when they finished the season 42-30 to earn the West’s No. 7 seed. L.A.’s 2020 title defense was still alive. Russell Westbrook was on the Washington Wizards. Reaves hadn’t entered the pros yet.
The Lakers’ aspirations are higher than posting a record of six games above .500, but Davis took a moment to reflect on the three-year journey and acknowledge the group is heading in the best direction since the early days of the James-Davis partnership.
“I think we’re hitting our stride right now,” Davis said. “We’ve had some really good wins. … We’re just trying to keep going, keep pushing, knowing that just like last year, all we got to do is get in. We feel like it’s tough for anybody to beat us in a seven-game series. … We like our chances against anybody at that point.”
Davis produced a stat line that had never been done in NBA history, with 27 points, 25 rebounds (a season-high), five assists, seven steals (a career-high) and three blocks. He did all that despite still being hampered by left shoulder soreness; he was a game-time decision and wasn’t officially cleared to play until 30 minutes before tip-off. Davis had to use a heat pack on his shoulder during timeouts and on the bench to keep it warm and loose.
“I felt it at times out there,” Davis said of his shoulder. “I still kind of feel it.”
It helped that the Wolves’ frontline was compromised without Defensive Player of the Year candidate Rudy Gobert, All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns and reserve forward Kyle Anderson. Still, Naz Reid is one of the best backup centers in the NBA, and he stepped in admirably, scoring 25 and blocking four of Davis’ shots. Jaden McDaniels is one of the game’s best perimeter stoppers, and Wolves star Anthony Edwards is also a plus defender. The Wolves were largely competitive even without half of their rotation.
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“This team is No. 2 in the West and still a good team,” Davis said. “Obviously, they’re missing key parts of their team, but they still have guys who can make plays, and they still find a way to win ballgames. We just wanted to come out with a team effort and, knowing that wherever we are in the standings and how important this game was, try to close the gap in the standings.”
Davis dominated the Wolves on the interior with 18 points in the paint and 10 offensive rebounds. He willed the Lakers to victory in the fourth quarter with four offensive rebounds and 11 overall. Davis grabbed 21 rebounds just in the second half.
“A Hall of Fame performance,” teammate Taurean Prince said.
Davis’ seven steals were the most by a Lakers player since Lou Williams in December 2015. His rebound total was the most by a Lakers player since Dwight Howard in January 2013 and one off his career high.
“Ten offensive rebounds is crazy,” Reaves said. “I did feel any time we shot and missed, he was there to give us a second-chance opportunity with offensive rebounds, get himself to the line. The steals, I don’t know. The steals are crazy. Seven steals is very, very impressive. … It was a special night for him.”
The evening was also special for Davis for another reason: Monday is his 31st birthday, and he’ll be home with his family to celebrate it for the first time in his career. He wouldn’t share how he plans to celebrate but joked that he’ll recover on Tuesday with the Lakers having two days off before Wednesday’s rematch with the Kings in Sacramento.
The two-way break affords the Lakers a much-needed opportunity to rest, with Davis nursing his shoulder injury, Cam Reddish being a late scratch due to a right ankle sprain and James (who had 29 points, eight rebounds and nine assists on Sunday) still dealing with “severe” ankle soreness. Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt or Gabe Vincent also all remain out with injuries.
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The Lakers will leave Los Angeles for the first time after playing seven consecutive games at their home arena, though the one against the LA Clippers was technically a road game. They’ve won 12 of 17 games, largely treading water in the West standings at No. 9 but gaining some meaningful ground ahead of the No. 10 Golden State Warriors (1 1/2 games back), who are currently without Stephen Curry for a little bit.
The Lakers have 16 games to try to ascend higher, with a four-game homestand after the Kings matchup that includes the Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers. If the Lakers keep winning, the No. 8 seed is legitimately in play, as are higher ones.
The group’s confidence is as high as it’s been all season because of the results of the past week and the team’s sudden momentum in the standings. There is still a ways to go, and as this season has shown, an injury or a disappointing loss could always be right around the corner. But as things stand, the Lakers are heating up at the right time for the second straight season.
“We still got guys out, but we’re confident in our group,” Davis said. “We know that we can line up against anybody and beat them if we play the right way. If we don’t, then we can line up against anybody and lose. But I think right now, playing against these top teams, it’s gonna help us later on come playoff time. It was a good test for us to kind of tighten up screws and figure out what we need to do.”
(Top photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)