LeBron James Leads Los Angeles Lakers to No. 7 Seed in Western Conference With Win Over Minnesota Timberwolves

• The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Play-In game
• The Lakers rallied from 15 points down to advance to the 2023 NBA Playoffs
• They claimed the seventh spot in the West with the win against Minnesota

The Los Angeles Lakers are moving on to the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

They claimed the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a heart-stopping 108-102 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, in the NBA’s Play-In tournament on Tuesday night.

LeBron James starred for the Lakers, who will next face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.

The league’s scoring king registered a double-double against the Wolves, scoring 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, per ESPN.

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He got some help from his teammates, with four other Lakers scoring in double figures.

Anthony Davis also had a double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Denis Schroder scored 21 points and iced the victory with a pair of free throws with 8.4 seconds remaining in overtime.

Short-handed Wolves tested Lakers

Many expected the Lakers to cruise to an easy win following the news that the Timberwolves had suspended Rudy Gobert for the play-in game due to his punch on Kyle Anderson, with Jaden McDaniels also out with a fractured right hand.

That didn’t happen, as the Wolves were the ones who started strongly in this contest. They led by 11 points at the halftime break and extended that advantage to 15 in the second half.

Lakers' defense sparks rally

The Lakers made a furious fightback, holding the Grizzlies scoreless for six minutes in the fourth quarter. They went on a 10-0 run during that stretch, turning a 95-88 deficit into a 98-95 lead.

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Schroder thought he had won it for the Lakers after sinking a corner three with 1.4 seconds left.

Davis committed a significant mistake in the ensuing possession, fouling Mike Conley as he attempted a three-point shot in the dying seconds.

Conley drained all three free throws to send the game into overtime.

The Lakers dominated the extra period, outscoring the Wolves 10-4 to pull off the win.

Edwards and Towns struggle

It was a disappointing loss for the Wolves, who got disappointing performances from their star players.

Anthony Edwards scored just nine points in 43 minutes of action. He shot just 3 of 17 from the field, including 0 for 9 from beyond the arc.

Karl-Anthony Towns was a non-factor for Minnesota after picking up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter.

Wolves suspend Gobert

Sports Brief recently reported on Rudy Gobert's one-game suspension.

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The Wolves suspended the Frenchman after his fight with Anderson.

Gobert will be available vs the winner of New Orleans and Oklahoma City.