LeBron James’ big game helps Lakers fend off collapse for fourth straight win
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The first row of seats across the court from the benches was empty at the start of the second half Thursday. Instead of watching the Lakers game courtside, fans were attending a party elsewhere inside Crypto.com Arena for Netflix’s “Running Point,” a comedy inspired by team owner Jeanie Buss that premiered the same night.
Early in the third quarter, LeBron James flew into those empty seats, flying at Minnesota’s Naz Reid, who had an open look at a three-pointer. James caused just enough of a distraction that Reid missed, the Lakers pushing the other way and scoring as James untangled himself from a collapsed row of chairs.
“This is who we are,” he said.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James are playing inspired basketball, setting up the Lakers for success and paving the way for a championship run.
It was another moment, another play by James for a Lakers team that suddenly has become one of the NBA’s grittiest — a group that fights on defense and can grind out wins when its offense isn’t at its best like Thursday, when it hung on for a 111-102 win over the Timberwolve
“It’s good to win when you don’t have your best stuff,” guard Austin Reaves said. “And I feel like that’s how you end up with a really good record. You’re not going to play good every game, but figuring out ways to win those games is very important.”
James finished with 33 points, 17 rebounds and six assists while epitomizing the Lakers’ defensive intensity. Reaves added 23 points and Luka Doncic had 21 points,13 rebounds and five assists.
The Lakers raced to a 23-point lead, dominating from the tip thanks to stellar play that has made them the NBA’s most efficient team on defense over the last 20-plus games. The style has been effective, pushing the Lakers to 15 games over .500 and into fourth place in the West, just a game behind the Denver Nuggets entering Friday.
Minnesota (32-28), however, found its footing after losing All-Star Anthony Edwards to an ejection midway through the third quarter. Without Edwards, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert — the latter two because of injuries — the Timberwolves ticked up their physicality and attacked, whittling the Lakers’ lead down to three points.
But two buckets from Doncic, including one absurd three-pointer as he fell out of bounds, gave the Lakers enough cushion in a game that, fittingly, ended with them having to fight for every point.
The Lakers’ defensive effort came on the perfect night, another one when Doncic struggled to find his rhythm. The rest of the Lakers slowly wore down. Everything from open threes to layups to free throws all failed to break an invisible seal placed on the rim in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers made just five of 20 shots from the field in the quarter, and while they shot 46 free throws overall, they made only 32.
Playing for the sixth time since being traded from Dallas, Doncic made just one three-pointer, missing eight. Since joining the Lakers, he has made 11 of 49 (22.4%) from three-point range.
“The big thing for me is you gotta go through a lot of downs to get to the highest point,” Doncic said. “But it’s a big challenge for me, just getting back into my rhythm. Making those easier shots for me. And it’s a big challenge for me. And I look forward to it.”
Doncic said the energy for him in Los Angeles has been a thrill.
“It’s amazing. I think the atmosphere has been amazing, even when I’m playing bad. I don’t think I’ve had a good game here yet,” Doncic said. “But every time I check in, they cheer for me. So this is an unbelievable feeling to be here.”
Rui Hachimura left in the third quarter after scoring on a one-handed dunk. He sustained a left-knee strain, according to the team, and didn’t return.
Doncic and James were unsure if they would play against the visiting Clippers on Friday, and Hachimura seemed like a long shot.
Still, the Lakers have a winning formula — flying around the court, and if necessary, into the seats.
“When you have enough live bodies to be able to go out there every night, then it’s sustainable,” James said. “But in order for us to win, we have to play hard. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
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