MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Davis hobbled by means of a turned ankle and the Los Angeles Lakers continued their march towards a postseason return with a 123-111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night time.
“He kicked our ass in each approach attainable,” Wolves coach Chris Finch mentioned after Davis scored 17 of his 38 factors within the fourth quarter to steer the Lakers to their fifth win of their final six video games to go above .500 for the primary time all season.
Davis twisted his left ankle when he stepped backwards onto Lakers ahead Wenyen Gabriel‘s foot halfway by means of the third quarter.
The Lakers massive man fell to the ground as play continued down the opposite finish and Davis needed to be helped to the bench throughout an ensuing timeout, with L.A. trailing 76-70.
Davis did not find yourself lacking a single possession. He checked again into the sport after the cease in motion and contributed to a 24-2 run by the Lakers that put them into the driving force’s seat heading into the fourth quarter.
“I knew I used to be going to play,” Davis mentioned after the sport. “Tied the sneakers up tighter and simply form off performed off adrenaline till the tip of the sport and was in a position to get some remedy. However I will be nice.”
Davis mentioned he can be within the lineup Sunday when the Lakers proceed their highway journey towards the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers have nicknamed their highway jaunt a “get again” journey, as they try and reel off 4 straight wins towards 4 groups — Chicago, Minnesota, Houston and Utah — that beat them earlier within the season.
Davis has scored 38 factors in every of the primary two wins. On Friday he shot 15-for-26 from the sphere and 8-for-10 from the foul line with 17 rebounds and two blocks.
“We jumped on AD’s again and he introduced us dwelling,” mentioned LeBron James, who had 18 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in simply his third sport again following a four-week absence due to a torn tendon in his proper foot.
L.A. (39-38) is No. 7 within the Western Convention standings, trailing the No. 6 Golden State Warriors by 1½ video games with 5 left within the common season. The Lakers personal the tiebreaker over the Warriors.
“Deal with each sport prefer it’s a playoff sport, as a result of we’re combating for our lives at this level,” mentioned Lakers ahead Jarred Vanderbilt. “We’re making an attempt to struggle for our place and we nonetheless assume the sixth seed is a aim for us and it is nonetheless in attain. So, proper now simply care for our personal enterprise and the remaining will care for itself.”
After beginning the season 2-10, the Lakers are one of many hottest groups in basketball.
As a lot as Friday was a continuation of L.A.’s turnaround this season, it additionally represented redemption on a deeper degree.
It was December 2021, in Goal Heart, when the Lakers’ season first went awry, when Jaden McDaniels fell into Davis’ knee and precipitated him to overlook greater than a month.
“I do not actually strive to consider that, let the adverse ideas get in my head,” Davis mentioned of his previous damage woes towards the Wolves. “Simply attempt to go on the market and play.”
What’s extra, the Lakers had solely gone 1-5 in Minnesota since James joined the Lakers earlier than Friday’s breakthrough.
“This sport is over with,” James mentioned. “Our focus shifts to Houston proper now.”
The Lakers’ flight to Houston after the sport was canceled due to a snowstorm. They’ll fly on Saturday afternoon as a substitute.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham hopes his workforce’s momentum can proceed to snowball within the remaining week and a half of the common season.
“Simply (need) us to stay tenacious, stay extremely aggressive, stay collectively,” Ham mentioned. “Simply know that we won’t be fats and pleased. There are extra issues that we now have to overcome.”