The Los Angeles Lakers have surged in the Western Conference standings, now holding the 8th seed after winning 9 of their last 10 games. Led by LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers are making a playoff push. However, in a recent game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers faced challenges with injuries to Davis and LeBron, ultimately falling 127-117 despite Jaxson Hayes' strong performance.
Lakers-Timberwolves reaction: LA falls without LeBron and AD -- A series of bad breaks for the Lakers -- Why LA should feel confident against the Wolves in a potential playoff series -- Why Tuesday's game with the Warriors is a must-win https://t.co/VeZBqHG5OX https://t.co/tgHZjOUsBx
Reid Gets 31, Timberwolves Jump on Lakers 127-117 in the Absence of LeBron James, Anthony Davis https://t.co/Nob69nXeMk
Reid, Edwards shine as Timberwolves defeat Lakers #LosAngelesLakers #MinnesotaTimberwolves #NazReid https://t.co/kj9bmlga0w
Timberwolves rise to No. 1 spot in West with win over shorthanded Lakers https://t.co/Pl6AycdkDc
Reid gets 31, Timberwolves jump on Lakers 127-117 in the absence of LeBron James, Anthony Davis https://t.co/uMVy0yAvB9
π₯ Jaxson Hayes, le ππ¨π‘πππ¨π₯ ππ’π¨ des Lakers : quatre dunks en trois minutes ! https://t.co/5HJcbfe6nE
The Golden State Warriors expected more than a No. 10 seed in the West, but theyβre heating up. Will it lead to bigger things in the NBA play-in tournament? https://t.co/x1ICtdOQzI
The Timberwolves pounce on LeBron James' absence and Anthony Davis' exit as they move back into a tie for first place in the Western Conference with defending champion Nuggets. #NBA https://t.co/cEeh7fjK5d
Naz Reid and Ant Edwards lead the way as the Timberwolves get the W and take back the top spot in the West! πΊπ Reid: 31 PTS (12-16 FGM), 6 3PM, 11 REB Edwards: 26 PTS, 8 AST https://t.co/AovFeE7hTn
Naz Reid put on a monster performance to help the Wolves get the W in L.A. πͺ https://t.co/Vyi3ViI4Jq
βοΈ for @SportingTrib. The Lakers had their four-game win streak snapped after suffering a loss to the Wolves. LeBron didn't play and Anthony Davis ended up leaving after the first quarter with an eye injury. https://t.co/u2Xo8AsGtI
The Wolves come out of Tinseltown with a win over the Lakers and are currently the 1st seed in the West. πΊ https://t.co/jDxez9o4UA
The @Timberwolves pick up a big time #CenterCourt win πΊ Reid: 31 PTS | 11 REB Edwards: 26 PTS | 8 AST Gobert: 18 PTS | 16 REB https://t.co/Wctw9U14lE
After losing Anthony Davis to injury in the second quarter and already without LeBron James, the Lakers had little fight for the Wolves on Sunday. @LakersSBN https://t.co/tXE6IfdKHA
The Lakers lose to the Wolves, 127-117, to fall to 45-33 with three games remaining. Nice nights for Rui (30p on 11-of-17 6r), Hayes (19p on 8-for-9 10r 5s) and Dinwiddie (18p 7a) but not enough with no LeBron and an injured AD against a strong MIN team.
MIN 127, LAL 117 Nice bounceback for the Wolves after that ugly one in Phoenix. Lakers got the Wolves w/o KAT and Gobert, now Wolves get Lakers w/o LeBron and AD. 1st place in the West Reid: 31p, 11r, 6-8 3s Edwards: 26p, 8a, 1 TO Gobert: 18p, 16r NAW: 15p
LAL ultimately couldn't overcome AD's absence after the 1st Q. Hachimura led the way on O, hitting 11 of 17 FG's (4 of 5 3's) for 30 points. Hayes has a season-high 18 points w/a career-high 5 steals. Russell and Reaves struggled on O, combining to shoot 9 for 33.
An impressive 3rd Q from LAL, with LeBron (flu-like symptoms) and AD (eye) out, as they trimmed a 15-point halftime deficit to as few as 5 with a 28-18 run. The Wolves did rally to score 5 points in the final 40 seconds of the 3rd to take a 102-92 lead into the 4th.
Third quarter: Wolves 102, Lakers 92 LA outscored Minnesota 28-23 in the third. Jaxson Hayes, Spencer Dinwiddie and Rui Hachimura each have 18 points. DLo has 10 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists. Austin Reaves has 13 points. LA hanging around despite no LeBron and AD.
Everybodyyyyy say JAXSON HAYES π«‘ That's FOUR dunks in under four minutes https://t.co/6SsAPkvvw7
Jaxson Hayes is dunking all over the Timberwolves -- he's dunked on the last two possessions and four times this quarter. He's up to 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block. LA has trimmed the Wolves' lead to just seven points, 88-81, with 4:26 left in the third quarter.
Jaxson Hayes is dunking all over the Timberwolves -- he's dunk on the last two possessions and four times this quarter. He's up to 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block. LA has trimmed the Wolves' lead to just seven points, 88-81, with 4:26 left in the third quarter.
Jaxson Hayes is dunking on seemingly every other trip, now 8 for 9 from the field for 18 points, including 4 buckets in this 3rd Q he started for Anthony Davis (eye injury). With Hayes rolling, LAL are within 7 at 88-81, at the 4:26 mark of the 3rd period.
Jaxson Hayes playing his own NBA Jam game.
JAXSON HAYES DOWN THE LANE π¨ Lakers looking to make a 2nd half push on NBA TV! π² https://t.co/Z2dusrCvVx https://t.co/ksM2laoLXb
Jaxson Hayes is starting the second half at center for the Lakers.
Lakers looked sensational in the 1st quarter, scoring 37 on the NBA's best defensive team. Then AD got whacked in the eye again ... and LeBron has that early-April flu ... and the Lakers got blown off the floor by Minnesota. 79-64 at half.
Very simple explanation from the 1st half. 1st Q with Davis: 37-33 Lakers 2nd Q with Davis in the locker room: 46-27 Wolves Wolves shot 60.8%.
We're seeing just how much the Lakers rely upon Anthony Davis especially defensively, as the Wolves are either scoring at will inside, or grabbing offensive boards when they miss. LAL were up 4 when AD played, but are -16 (36-20) with him in the locker room. Wolves lead 69-57.
The Wolves are up 69-57. Timeout Lakers. Anthony Davis has yet to emerge from the locker room and the team has not divulged what he is being evaluated for.
Already down LeBron, pretty tough for LAL not to have Davis back in this 2nd Q for his usual minutes. He averaged 30.3 points on 59.3% FGβs, 16.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.7 blocks and 3.7 steals in the 3 prior games vs. Minnesota this season.
First quarter: Lakers 37, Wolves 33 Spencer Dinwiddie has 9 points. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura each have 7 points. AD has 4 points (2-6 FGs), 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. He picked up his second foul late in the quarter. LA has an 18-14 edge in paint points.
Threes from Reaves, Dinwiddie and Hachimura in quick succession have LAL up 20-13 despite Minnesota starting hot from the field at 6 for 8. Great energy from both teams.
The Lakers are getting hot at the right time, winning nine in their last 10 games π₯ Are you backing them to win the West? π΄ https://t.co/zyozxCMQxY
Lakers vs. Wolves, Three Things to Know: https://t.co/2GBBHxCR7I
The Lakers moved into the eighth seed after yesterday's win over the Cavs and are getting hot at the right time. π₯π΄ Are you backing them at +3000 to win the NBA title or +1700 to win the West? https://t.co/U8Az5D4xiv
The Lakers moved into the eight seed after yesterday's win over the Cavs and are getting hot at the right time. π₯π΄ Are you backing them at +3000 to win the NBA title or +1700 to win the West? https://t.co/HRHgpH5flM
Lakers-Cavaliers reaction: LA moves up to No. 8 in the West: -- Why the No. 7 and 8 seeds are increasingly in play -- LA's improving perimeter defense -- This was their ideal pace offensively https://t.co/M5NxqVOuXc
The Lakers are now the 8th seed in the West π https://t.co/ftP3fPXras
The Lakers have won nine of their last ten games.Β With its 116-97 win over the Cavaliers, Los Angeles (45-33) will temporarily jump the Sacramento Kings (44-33) for No. 8 in the West. That is the highest the Lakers have been in the standings since Dec. 29, 2023. https://t.co/MPhLCsSRxi
The Lakers are in sole possession of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and are just 1/2 game back of the No. 7 seed and 1.5 games back of the No. 6 seed. They have won 4 straight and 9 of their last 10 games.
The Lakers' trio of LeBron, AD, and DLo led the charge in LA's 4th-straight win as they now move into 8th in the West standings! LeBron: 24 PTS, 12 AST, 5 REB AD: 22 PTS, 13 REB, 6 BLK DLo: 28 PTS, 5 REB, 6 3PM https://t.co/Ei8h7egrQq