Kent Bewley's News Story Collection

On Tues, Mar 10, the Los Angeles Lakers played host to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a crucial game for playoff positioning in the Western Conference standings. Following a good Sunday afternoon win over the New York Knicks, the Lakers were seeking back-to-back wins against playoff-caliber teams. Having defeated Minnesota twice in the first two weeks of the season, the Purple & Gold looked to once again pound a Wolves team who defeated them in the first round of last year’s playoffs. LeBron James was ruled out once again, this time with a right hip contusion along with some left foot arthritis. So, for the third straight game, it would have to be Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves leading the way for L.A in a big game versus a tough opponent in the 40-win Timberwolves.

The game started out in an even more low-scoring fashion than the New York game. Both teams shot poorly from the floor in the first quarter and from three-point range in the entire first half. With only 16 points in the first quarter, the Lakers were off to a slow start in this contest. They eventually got going due to some efficient paint baskets made by DeAndre Ayton, who had a double-double in the first half alone. Luka eventually made the first three of the game for the Purple & Gold and a close ending to the first half had the score all tied up at 45. Two of the big stars were struggling to score, as Reaves only had two points in the half while Anthony Edwards could only muster three points for Minnesota, which was missing a lot of good-looking shots. Scoring on both sides was bound to pick up in the second half.

The third quarter was filled with loads of scoring and fouls, leading to trips to the free throw line. Doncic continued his good performance that he had begun to create in the second quarter, but he also got some much needed help from Reaves, who came to life in the third quarter. Reaves scored 16 points in the period and helped push the Lakers well ahead of the Wolves. In spite of some points from Edwards, Minnesota was left in the dust as the lead for Los Angeles was 16 at the end of the quarter. 39 third-quarter points after only 45 in the first half for the home team. The lead kept going up in the fourth quarter as Reaves made a couple of thrilling three-pointers to push the lead up to the twenties. After a bit of jawing between Jarred Vanderbilt and Bones Hyland that produced some technical fouls, the Lakers cemented this victory with some clutch shots from Luka and the scrubs on both sides came in. The final score was 120-106 in favor of the Purple & Gold, who clinched a season-sweep of the Wolves and bounced ahead of them in the Western Conference standings. With 40 wins on the season, the Lakers are currently on the better end of the clogged logjam of third place and seventh place in the West.

Doncic and Reaves led the way in scoring, as both had 31 points each. Luka had his seventh triple-double of the season with 11 each in rebounds and assists. Ayton had 14 points and 12 rebounds on a night when Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber were both out with back injuries. The bench player who showed the most effort in the game was Jake LaRavia, who in spite of only one made shot and eight points had a great night defensively in forcing turnovers and being active on the boards with seven rebounds. The Lakers only made 11 three-pointers out of 38 attempts, but Minnesota was slightly worse and out-rebounded in spite of Rudy Gobert’s towering presence. Edwards only made two baskets all game and somehow led the Wolves in scoring along with Julius Randle with 14 points each. The other starters for the T-Wolves didn’t do much better and 13 points off the bench from both Naz Reid and Ayo Dosunmu was not enough for Minnesota on this night.

An overall great win over an opponent that the Lakers lost to in the playoffs last year and could very well face them again in the first round. This roster seems more than willing to do the hard work and step up, especially with LeBron on the mend. Whenever King James returns, the Purple & Gold will welcome him back with open arms. Going forward, there will be three big games in a row after a Thursday night contest against the sub-standard Chicago Bulls. A Saturday night primetime matchup against the Denver Nuggets will occur and shall be huge in determining which team has the head-to-head advantage in case both finish with the same exact record at the end of the regular season. Then the two-week road trip begins with a two-game set against the Houston Rockets, who barely sit a half-game ahead of the Lakers for third place in the West standings. This team has the potential to be the same seed that they were in the playoffs last season, but it’s a thin margin currently between being solidly in the playoffs and falling down to the play-in. More wins must be in order and a three-game winning streak along with winning six of the last seven games is a great way to spring forward for the LakeShow in March.