Lakers outlast Wolves 108-102 in OT, advance to face Memphis

LOS ANGELES(AP) — LeBron James had 30 points and 10 rebounds, and the LosAngeles Lakers claimed the seventh spot in the Western Conferenceplayoffs with a grueling 108-102 overtime victory over theshort-handed Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA’s play-in tournamentTuesday night.

DennisSchröder scored 21 points and iced the win with two free throwswith 8.4 seconds left for the Lakers, who will face second-seededMemphis in the first round starting Sunday.

Karl-AnthonyTowns scored 24 points and Mike Conley hit three free throws with0.1 seconds left in regulation to tie it for the Wolves, who willhost New Orleans or Oklahoma City on Friday for the eighth spot anda first-round date with top-seeded Denver beginning Sunday. ThePelicans host the Thunder on Wednesday night.

Anthony Davishad 24 points, 15 rebounds and one tremendously ill-advised foul onConley, who scored 23 points. Los Angeles survived a back-and-forthmeeting with Minnesota, which gave an inspired effort while playingwithout starters Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.

Gobert issuspended for punching teammate Kyle Anderson during Minnesota’sregular-season finale against New Orleans, while McDaniels is outindefinitely with a broken hand after punching a wall infrustration Sunday.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead theLakers to a HUGE Play-In win in OT 😤LeBron: 30 PTS, 10 REB, 6 ASTAD: 24 PTS, 15 REB, 4 AST, 3 BLKShoutout Dennis Schroder for his 21 points and clutch buckets offthe bench 🔥 pic.twitter.com/D2m0HZkMS7

Los Angelesfinally won it with defense, holding the Wolves to seven points inthe final 11 minutes from midway through the fourth quarter whilethe Lakers rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half.

Schröderdrilled a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds to play inregulation, but the Wolves forced overtime when Conley hit threefree throws with 0.1 seconds left after Davis stepped on his footafter he had already released a 3-point attempt.

D’AngeloRussell had a nightmare game for Los Angeles against the team thattraded him in February, scoring two points on 1-of-9 shooting witheight assists. He was benched down the stretch by Schröder, whocame through tremendously.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves:McDaniels attended the game.

Lakers:Schröder returned from a two-game injury absence. ... TristanThompson and Shaq Harrison were in uniform for the first time aftersigning last Sunday. Neither veteran played.

UPNEXT

Timberwolves:Host Pelicans or Thunder on Friday.

Lakers: AtGrizzlies on Sunday.