Upstream choking before T-Wolves, Los Angeles Lakers close the NBA Playoffs 2023
Things didn't start off pretty for Los Angeles Lakers fans in today's play-in against the Minnesota Timberwolves. And its ending is equally ugly, making fans feel like they have to take heart medication with the last minutes.
In the first three innings, Wolves were in complete control of the game thanks to their impressive 3-pointer form. The longest distance that Minnesota created with the LA Lakers was sometimes up to 10 3-pointers.
Although LeBron James and his teammates worked hard to score near the basket, they could not use 2v3 and were 15 points ahead (76-61). But with stubbornness and effort in each phase, the Lakers team gradually shortened the gap before LeBron equalized the score 95-95 at the end of the fourth round.
Since then, developments that made fans "take heart medicine" began to appear, with the two teams taking turns having disastrous turnovers and giving the opponent scoring opportunities.
Austin Reaves, LeBron James of the Lakers and Kyle Anderson of the Timberwolves, respectively, lost the ball. Surprisingly, neither team took advantage of it.
The score 95-95 was kept until the last few seconds of the fourth round. Here comes Dennis Schroder's star moment.
It seemed that the Los Angeles Lakers could close this tense play-in with a 3-point victory. However, when the match was only 0.1 seconds, the game reversed.
Anthony Davis lost contact with LeBron James in defense, then fouled Mike Conley on a long throw in the corner. With experience, bravery and a bit of luck, Conley coldly threw in all 3 penalties to send the game into extra time.
After 3 points at the end of the 4th half, Dennis Schroder added 4 more points in extra time to get a total of 21 points this match, reaching 3-4 3PT and having a 100% free throw rate (8-8 FT). In front of him was Anthony Davis with 24 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks.
LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers team with 30 points, 6 assists, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks, officially returning to the Playoffs round after a year of absence.
Call this a game with an ugly ending because both teams only scored a total of 31 points in the fourth round, although the Lakers alone scored 30 points in the third half, the Timberwolves scored 32 points in the second half.
The LA team's comeback was "fueled" by the thirst for points lasting more than 6 minutes of Karl-Anthony Towns and teammates.The away team did not score any points from the fourth half with 6 minutes left until the end Mike Conley scored 3 points on the free throw line.
Towns led the Timberwolves with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Mike Conley is right behind with 23 points, 4 assists, 3 steals and 6-8 3PT. Minnesota star Anthony Edwards was locked in today with only 3-17 FG (0-9 3PT) and scored 9 points.
The result of this match gave the 7th seed to the Los Angeles Lakers. They will have 3 days of rest before starting the first round Playoffs series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday morning (April 17).
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves still have one more chance to enter the Playoffs in the second play-in round. They will meet the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans match.
