Anthony Davis had a season-high 27 points to go with 25 rebounds and a career-high seven steals while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 120-109 victory over the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
Davis added five assists and three blocked shots in one of the most prolific games of his decorated career. The nine-time All-Star feasted on a Minnesota lineup that lost its two best big men and four regulars to injuries, grabbing 21 rebounds in the second half alone and leading a 21-4 rally to start the fourth quarter as the Lakers pulled away. to their 12th victory in 17 matches.
LeBron James had 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 19 points as the Lakers knocked off another top team after wins over Oklahoma City and Milwaukee in their six home games . Los Angeles (36-30) is six games above .500 for the first time this season.
Naz Reid scored 25 points and made five 3-pointers in his first start of the season for Minnesota, which made 16 of its season-high 46 3-point attempts. Reid delivered his second straight stellar performance after scoring a career-high 34 against Cleveland last Friday, but the Wolves’ depleted interior defense couldn’t stop Davis without Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Towns.
Anthony Edwards also scored 25 points for the Wolves, who have lost four of six. Minnesota missed nine straight shots to start the fourth quarter while Los Angeles pulled away.
James returned after sitting out due to injury for the ninth time this season when the Lakers stunned Milwaukee 123-122 Friday night behind D’Angelo Russell’s 44-point performance. Davis injured his left shoulder in that game in a collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but was healthy enough to return.
Edwards played through an ankle injury, but Gobert sat out with a right hamstring strain. Gobert, who missed his third game of the season, was fined $100,000 by the NBA earlier Sunday for a series of transgressions calling into question the integrity of NBA officials on Friday.
Towns missed his third straight game for Minnesota since being diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee. The big man will likely be sidelined until the playoffs after surgery.
Kyle Anderson was also out with right shoulder soreness, and Monte Morris missed his second straight game with a left hamstring strain.
Lakers swingman Cam Reddish has been ruled out with a sprained right ankle. It was the second additional game he has missed since returning from a month-long injury absence in late February.
FOLLOWING
Timberwolves: At the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday night.
Lakers: at Sacramento Wednesday evening.
