Los Angeles Lakers suffered this Wednesday their third consecutive loss and the fifteenth in the last twenty gamesfalling through 124-104 on his visit to the Hispanic Minnesota Timberwolves Karl Anthony Townswhich continues to accelerate and press to seal a direct ticket to the playoffs.
After being completely overwhelmed by the Phoenix Suns and the Toronto Raptorsthe Lakers (29-40) crashed into a Towns that was the best of the Timberwolves with 30 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes on the court.
The player of Dominican origin, king of the triples in the last All-Starwas slowed down by fouls during the match, but despite not being able to play many minutes, he was once again decisive after sealing his record for points in the NBA against San Antonio (60).
in the Lakers, LeBron James scored 19 pointspicked up five rebounds and dished out four assists, but had a lousy one of eight in triples on a bad day for his entire team, who only converted ten of 45 three-point attempts.
the lakers are eighth in the West, while the Timberwolves are seventh (41-30), but getting closer to the Denver Nuggets (42-28). Of course, a very complicated schedule awaits them, with appointments against the Milwaukee Bucks, twice against the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics.
Recital de Anthony Edwards
The Lakers continued with great trouble at the beginning of the game and they only scored 17 points in the first periodwith a zero of ten in triples and a six of 21 in shots that took its toll on them and made them accumulate an early disadvantage of fourteen points after twelve minutes.
A tough adverse partial that confirmed the difficulties of Vogel’s team in storming the matches. In the last two games, they lost by fourteen points to the Phoenix Suns, and by 21 to the Toronto Raptors, after the first quarter.
The Timberwolves, in great athletic and mental shape, were led by nine points from Karl Anthony Towns y de Patrick Beverly, while Malik Beasley, with a great triple, and Anthony Edwardswith a counterattack basket, propitiated the 31-17 that left the Lakers touched.
And the second quarter became a real nightmare for the Lakers. The Timberwolves lead reached 25 points at 51-26, with six minutes to play, with a great dunk from Jarred Vanderbilt, but it was a colosal Anthony Edwards in sinking the Los Angeles team.
If LeBron and Carmelo Anthony led the reaction, more pride than tactics, of the Lakers, Edwards scored twenty points in the second quarterwith five of seven triples and eleven consecutive points for the Timberwolves who escaped again until 67-46 at the break.
wore 24 points at the break against some Lakers who continued to have tremendous trouble in the tripleshitting just two of 21, for the Timberwolves’ nine of 22.
The Lakers try to react
The Lakers changed their pace in the second half and, based on great sets, gradually came back to within nine points to start the last period.
They unlocked themselves in the three-point shots and after two of 21, converted six of fifteen, with a triple of Westbrook for 64-73 to complete an 18-4 run.
The Timberwolves could not count on Towns, loaded with fouls, and saw their percentages drop a lot, with a poor one of nine in triples that facilitated the comeback of the Lakers.
With work, Minnesota managed to recover a double-digit lead, but a three-pointer at the buzzer in the third quarter by DJ Augustin determined the 86-77 that gave the Lakers hope.
Another layup from Augustin brought them within four points, but then, with Towns back on the court, the Timberwolves were up to speed again.
They got a last period with 38 points and shielded their victory with several minutes in advancewith a twenty-point lead carried to the end 124-104.
The game ended in a big party atmosphere at the Target Center, with several fans kicking off their shoes, as Towns does when he knows the game is over.