How the Lakers defeated the Timberwolves in the Play-In to earn the West's No. 7 seed

Publish date: 2024-06-17

LOS ANGELES — If there were ever a game that could summarize the roller-coaster nature of the Lakers’ 2022-23 season, it would be their 108-102 overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 Play-In matchup.

There were highs (Dennis Schröder’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left in regulation) and lows (Anthony Davis fouling Mike Conley on a 3-pointer in the corner to send the game to overtime). The Lakers trailed by 15 points to an undermanned Timberwolves squad midway through the third quarter, then looked like world-beaters, holding Minnesota to 16 points over the game’s final 17 minutes.

The Lakers’ defense was dominant. Their offense sputtered, with the team’s rim-heavy attack and foul drawing bailing out their jump-shooting woes. Davis didn’t get the ball as much as he should have — when he did, there was a crowd. Crunchtime featured a comedy of errors — including a turnover that could’ve set up double overtime — with Los Angeles continually opening the door for Minnesota to steal the game.

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham labeled the game a “dogfight,” which seems disrespectful to dogfights. Ultimately, the Lakers found a way to prevail — as ugly as the game was — and now find themselves officially as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed, with a seven-game series against the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies awaiting them. Game 1 is Sunday in Memphis.

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(Photo: Harry How / Getty Images)

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