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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Workers Author
LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis put up a historic stat line — his 27 factors, 25 rebounds, 7 steals, 5 assists and three blocks had by no means been replicated earlier than within the league — and the Los Angeles Lakers downed one other top-tier opponent by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-109 on Sunday.
The win over the Western Convention’s No. 2 staff capped off every week through which L.A. additionally got here out victorious towards the West’s No. 1 staff, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, and the Japanese Convention’s No. 2 staff, the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I believe we’re hitting our stride proper now,” Davis stated after the win lifted the Lakers to 6 video games above .500 for the primary time all season. “We’re simply making an attempt to maintain going, maintain pushing, realizing that similar to final yr, all we acquired to do is get in. We really feel prefer it’s powerful for anyone to beat us in a seven-game collection. … We like our probabilities towards anyone at that time.”
Davis got here into the night time listed as questionable with left shoulder soreness from a collision with the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo on Friday. The Lakers medical workers wrapped Davis’ shoulder with a warmth pack when he was subbed out of the sport and on the bench.
“I felt it at instances on the market,” Davis stated of his shoulder soreness. “I nonetheless sort of really feel it.”
Davis made his presence felt towards a Minnesota staff lacking its two star huge males in Rudy Gobert (proper hamstring) and Karl-Anthony Cities (left knee).
“A Corridor of Fame efficiency,” Lakers wingman Taurean Prince stated of Davis’ night time, through which he turned the primary participant with no less than 25 factors, 25 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a sport since steals turned an official stat in 1973-74.
It was such an important sport for Davis that LeBron James returning from a sore left ankle to place up 29 factors on 10-for-16 taking pictures, 9 assists and eight rebounds was utterly overshadowed.
Davis’ 7 steals had been a profession excessive and probably the most by a Lakers participant since Lou Williams in December 2015. Davis’ rebounding complete was one shy of his profession excessive and probably the most by a Lakers participant since Dwight Howard in January 2013.
And Davis did it the day earlier than his thirty first birthday.
“It was earlier than my birthday, so I suppose we will [count it],” Davis stated. “It is truly the primary time I can rejoice my birthday in my total profession at, like, dwelling. On my precise birthday.”
L.A. is No. 9 within the West with 16 video games remaining — simply two video games behind the No. 6 Phoenix Suns. The Lakers have acknowledged their aim is to keep away from the play-in event by ending the season sixth or higher.
“No matter the place we stand, if we go put our greatest foot ahead and play the basketball that we all know we will play … I believe in the event you go ask anyone in our locker room, we’re tremendous assured with what we have now,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves stated.