I Los Angeles Lakers peel off Playoffs ticket by beating Minnesota Timberwolves 108-102 in first Play-In.
Decisive were the 30 points with 10 rebounds by. LeBron James, well supported by Dennis Schroder (21) and Rui Hachimura (12) with a decisive triple in overtime. Double-double also for Anthony Davis (24+15), who, however, committed a big ingenuity in the last action of the fourth period, actually giving Conley the free throws that sent the game to overtime. Disastrous D’Angelo Russell with 2 points and 1/9 from the field.
Minnesota eats its hands for having thrown away in the fourth period a game led for large stretches, then even in overtime a series of questionable choices paved the way for the yellowviola. Lakers who thus qualify with the seventh spot and will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
In the T’Wolves’ house, the 24 with 11 rebounds of. Karl Anthony Towns and the 23 of the evergreen Mike Conley. Weighing heavily is the absence of Jaden McDaniels and especially that of Rudy Gobert for the well-known events of the last regular season contest. In great pain Minnesota in the few minutes of rest given to KAT (41′ on the floor), in fact without a substitute in this match: with him on the court the plus/minus figure reads +18, without -24. Very bad Anthony Edwards with 9 points and 3/17 shooting, Minnie remains in control as long as he shoots with stellar percentages from the arc but gives up at the distance and will have to earn access to the Playoffs.
The Timberwolves will get another chance against the winner of the matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder. Match for which Gobert should be back available.
