LeBron James scores 30-point double-double but the Lakers need overtime to beat the Timberwolves

In a war of attrition, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to come back from multiple deficits to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-102 in the first Western Conference play-in game.

Even though they led in parts of the first and second quarters, they ended both with deficits of six and eleven points respectively as they struggled to hit their shots.

Despite being down by 15 at one point in the third quarter, this Lakers team that started LeBron James and Anthony Davis was able to claw back and find a way past a Timberwolves team playing without Rudy Gobert.

A Dennis Schroder 3-point ball that went through the net with 1.4 seconds to go should have been enough for the Lakers to make it to the playoffs. However, Anthony Davis fouled Mike Conley behind the arc, Conley drained all three free throws, and the game went to overtime.

In overtime, the Lakers hit a 3-pointer early thanks to Rui Hachimura and never looked back as they locked up their spot in the playoffs and will go on to play the Memphis Grizzlies as the seventh seed.

Dennis Schroder (17) drilled a 3-pointer in the dying seconds to force overtime for the Lakers

LeBron James dished Schroder the ball – which would’ve ended the game were it not for a foul

Mike Conley went to the line & drained all three free throws to force OT after Davis fouled him

There, LeBron & co. took over – taking a lead early in the period and never looking back

After the game, Davis was apologetic to James and Schroder for his mistake in fouling Conley as LeBron joked to TNT.

‘It’s unfortunate that AD had a brain fart and messed [Schroder’s] game winner up,’ James said as he pointed at Davis.

Davis then came on screen, saying, ‘I messed his game winner up, I apologize. I definitely apologize,’ before exiting the interview. 

James led the way for the Lakers with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists while Davis chipped in with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Off the bench, Schroder had a clutch performance with 21 points and four rebounds.

Meanwhile for Minnesota, Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the scoresheet and the glass – putting up 24 points, 11 points, and five assists.

Initial reaction after the game ended led to criticism of Minnesota and their performance down the stretch. 

‘This was not about the Lakers coming back, this was about the Timberwolves choking the game away,’ TNT analyst Charles Barkley quipped after the game. 

Other sports analysts chipped in with comments – including Fox’s Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. 

‘Time for the king to put a stop to this, crown himself,’ Bayless wrote during the fourth quarter.

‘Bron is on fumes,’ Sharpe noted late in the game. ‘Oldest guy on the court and it isn’t close and he’s played the most mins tonite.’

Sports critic Skip Bayless tried urging on LeBron from home as he often has before

Meanwhile, LeBron’s friend Shannon Sharpe noticed that James had seemed to tire out late