Lakers rally back for overtime victory in play-in tournament to clinch seventh seed in NBA playoffs

It was a wild second half at crypto.com area, but it surely’s the Los Angeles Lakers who’re into the playoffs red-hot.

The purple and gold rallied again from down 15 factors to win an time beyond regulation thriller within the play-in match over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 108-102.

Tied at 95, the Lakers had the ball with 21.7 seconds to go and the shot clock off. LeBron James inbounded to Dennis Schroder who gave it again to James. Coated by Taurean Prince, James drove towards the contested bucket and was capable of finding Schroder for a wide-open nook three, which he banged with 1.4 seconds to go.

Sport over, proper? Nope. Anthony Davis fouled Mike Conley on a three-pointer with 0.1 seconds left. Conley knocked all three to ship the sport to time beyond regulation.

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LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Rui Hachimura #28 rejoice throughout the 2023 Play-In Match on April 11, 2023 at Crypto.Com Enviornment in Los Angeles, California.  (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Photos)

Each groups mixed to go 8-for-34 from the ground within the fourth quarter, however the Lakers snapped out of that shortly by leaping out to a 5-0 run to start time beyond regulation. The Wolves reduce it to a three-point deficit with 19.0 to go, they usually had been capable of intercept an inbound cross out of a timeout. Prince missed a wide-open three, although, and the Lakers grabbed the rebound. This time, they made a clear inbound, and after Schroder was fouled, he hit each free throws to carry Los Angeles again up 5 with 8.4 seconds left. Anthony Davis added one other free throw to complete the sport’s scoring.

With Karl-Anthony Cities in foul hassle within the fourth, the Lakers had been capable of take benefit and make it only a three-point sport with 8:16 to go after having been down by as many as 15. Cities returned shortly after, and Minnesota received again up seven. Nevertheless, L.A. slowly crept again, and James drilled a three-pointer with 2:02 to go to tie the sport at 95, giving him 30 factors on the night time. 

Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates throughout the 2023 Play-In Match on April 11, 2023, at Crypto.Com Enviornment in Los Angeles, California. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Photos)

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The Lakers held their breath on Davis’ foul – James jokingly referred to as it a “mind fart” in his postgame interview on the court docket, however they prevailed and are again within the playoffs after lacking final yr.

Minnesota was lights out from three-point vary for many of the night time, knocking 16 of their first 32 from behind the arc. Nevertheless, they missed their last 9.

The Timberwolves had been with out some key gamers – Jaden McDaniels is out with a damaged hand after punching a wall on Sunday, and Rudy Gobert was suspended for throwing punches on his personal teammate throughout a timeout.

James added 10 rebounds and 6 assists to associate with his 30-piece, whereas Davis put up 24 factors on his option to grabbing 15 boards. Schroder dropped 21, going 3-for-4 from lengthy vary.

Cities led Minnesota with 24 factors, and Conley wasn’t far behind with 23, however Anthony Edwards struggled. He put up simply 9 factors on 3-for-17 capturing after 24.6 factors per sport within the common season.

Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (6) dunks over Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, left, throughout the first half of an NBA basketball play-in match sport Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Picture/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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The Lakers at the moment are set to start a best-of-seven sequence with the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies, who went 51-31 this season led by Ja Morant.