After 2-10 Start, the Lakers Clinch the 7th Seed, Defeat the Wolves 108-102

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially clinched a playoff spot and locked in the seventh seed in the Western Conference after a hard-fought win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the play-in game. LeBron James was once again the star of the show, leading the Lakers with 30 points, ten rebounds, and six assists, while Anthony Davis contributed 24 points and 15 rebounds.

The Lakers got a boost from Dennis Schroder, who came off the bench to score 21 points. Despite a late gaffe by Davis, who fouled Mike Conley with 0.1 seconds left in regulation, the Lakers were able to survive and force the game into overtime. The Lakers’ defense then came up huge, holding the Timberwolves to only four points in the extra period.

This win was crucial for the Lakers, as it not only secured their spot in the playoffs, but also gave them a week’s worth of rest before their matchup against the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Had they lost, they would have had to play another do-or-die game to make the playoffs.

The Lakers have been one of the best defensive teams in the league since the trade deadline, and their defense once again proved to be the difference in this game. Coach Darvin Ham praised his team’s defensive effort, saying “We struggled early, their guys got hot and were slashing and gave a great effort, we were fortunate to be able to clamp down in the end and get the win.”

With LeBron and Davis leading the way and the team’s defense firing on all cylinders, the Lakers will be a formidable opponent for anyone in the playoffs. As they gear up for their series against the Grizzlies, they will look to continue their winning ways and make a deep run in the postseason. Lebron James is ready for the challenge that the Grizzlies pose, as he had a scouting report ready immediately after the Wolves game.