Lakers catch Wolves in standings thanks to Luka Doncic’s triple-double
Luka Doncic posted 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 120-106 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in a battle of playoff-hopeful Western Conference teams.
Austin Reaves scored 31 points and Deandre Ayton added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who pulled level with the Timberwolves, both with 40-25 records. Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker for fourth place in the West thanks to sweeping the three-game season series.
Los Angeles shot 48.4% from the floor while winning for the sixth time in the past seven games. The Lakers have won each of their past three games, all without LeBron James (hip/foot).
Anthony Edwards scored 14 points for the Timberwolves while shooting 2 of 15 from the floor and 1 of 10 from 3-point range. Juluis Randle also had 14 while Naz Reid and Ayo Dosunmu each added 13 as Minnesota lost its second consecutive game following a five-game winning streak.
The Timberwolves shot 46.2% from the floor in the opener of a four-game road trip that ends with a visit to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
Los Angeles took charge by outscoring Minnesota 39-23 in the third quarter to take an 84-68 lead. The Timberwolves did not make their first field goal in the third until Reid sank a floater with 5:58 remaining in the period.
Reaves scored 16 in the third and Doncic added 14 for the Lakers, who put together a 13-4 run to take an 67-54 lead.
As tempers flared between the teams, a Donte DiVincenzo dunk pulled the Timberwolves within 99-84 with 7:08 remaining before consecutive 3-pointers, by Marcus Smart and Doncic, put the Lakers up 105-84 with 6:30 left.
The Lakers scored just 16 points in the first quarter on 28.0% shooting but pulled even 45-45 entering halftime.
Randle scored 12 points for Minnesota in the first half, while Edwards was held to three points on 1-of-10 shooting, 0-of-6 from 3-point range. Ayton had 12 points with 11 rebounds for Los Angeles at the break, while Doncic also had 12 points en route to his seventh triple-double of the season.