Lakers Timberwolves card battle
After the Pelicans beat the Nuggets, the Lakers fell to the ninth position in the West, but for them, that is not the key, and this game against the Timberwolves may be their most crucial battle of the season. The Timberwolves are currently eighth in the West, just 0.5 wins ahead of the Lakers. With little left of the season, if the Lakers can win this game, then they can overtake the Timberwolves and, of course, with their head-to-head advantage, they will also overtake the Pelicans.
One game, 2 places up, even if it is a game on the road, the Los Angeles Lakers should give it their all. James and Davis continue to play, and the team continues the starting lineup of the last game, which may be the strongest starting lineup the Lakers have found so far, and the rise of Reeves in recent times makes people more hopeful about this Lakers.
The Timberwolves have the upper hand
At the beginning of the first quarter, the Timberwolves immediately played a wave of 7-1 start, but then the Lakers fought to catch up, Davis scored 5 points and 5 rebounds, Russell had 5 points and 4 assists, and after Beasley came on, he made three consecutive three-point shots, once helping the team complete the comeback. However, James did not feel good, only 2 points and 1 turnover on 1-of-6 shooting, the team only scored 27 points in a single quarter, while the Timberwolves scored 29 points, including Conley 8 points, 2 assists and 1 steal, and McDaniels 7 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist, but the team's two cores did not make a difference.
Towns scored just 2 points on 1-of-2 shooting, and Edwards missed a single point on 0-of-3 shooting, but even so, they still led the Lakers by two points. After returning from the second quarter, Towns began to exert his strength, scoring 10 points and 2 rebounds on 3-of-4 shooting, once again showing the demeanor of a super center. However, James continued to hit the box and gradually regained his form, shooting 2 of 4 for 5 points and 1 assist, Reeves also had 5 points and 2 rebounds, and the team could compete with the Timberwolves. However, with James off the court, Davis was frustrated on the offensive end, and the Lakers gradually fell into the downside.
The combination of Conley and Gobert began to show its power, two old Jazz teammates, connecting again and again, Conley shot 3 of 5 and scored 7 points and 2 assists, Gobert shot 4 of 5 for 10 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist, and the Timberwolves gradually took a 10-point lead. Vanderbilt made a layup to stabilize the situation, Edwards made a five-ball pull-up layup, James singled Gobert, missed a jumper after pressing the whistle, and at halftime, the Lakers trailed the Timberwolves 55-65 by 10 points.
The jazz duo broke out
The Timberwolves ended the first half with a 10-point lead, which was the biggest lead the Timberwolves had in the first half. The Jazz's duo contributed a lot, Conley had 15 points, 1 rebound and 4 assists, and Gobert had 14 points and 8 rebounds, and the connection between the two made the Lakers helpless. Towns also had 12 points and 3 rebounds, McDaniels 7 points and 5 rebounds, and Hammer Anderson on the bench was 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks, and his single-defense ability was once again impressive.
The Lakers have only one person to score a double-double, that is, Davis, who scored 13 points and 7 rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting, and in the face of Gobert's defense, McDaniels' assistant defense is indeed not much way. James had only 7 points and 1 assist, shooting 3-of-12 from the field, which was not satisfactory. Vanderbilt had 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, Reeves 7 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist, Russell 7 points and 4 assists, except for Davis, the remaining 4 starters all scored only 7 points. Beasley hit three three-pointers off the bench, nine points and six rebounds, and Schroeder had three points and three assists.