NBA Playoffs: A Night to Forget for the Lakers
Introduction to the Series
The Lakers, after a midseason loss to the Clippers, sounded an alarm, with both coach and leader saying the team didn’t have the luxury to just be pretty good. They needed to be great to win tough games. “It’s just, we don’t have a huge margin for error,” said JJ Redick. “That’s how our team is constructed,” added LeBron James. “We don’t have room for error.”
The Impact of Luka Doncic
But in a single move, when the Dallas Mavericks agreed to a blockbuster trade, the Lakers got the ultimate margin mover in Luka Doncic. Friday night in Minneapolis, that cushion came crashing in, Doncic far from himself because of an illness that had him working out on the court an hour before the game. With Doncic off, the mistakes took on more weight. The free throws that rattled out? Bruising. The offensive rebounds given up? Crushing. The lapses in attention that led to turnovers? Back-breaking.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic can’t block a late three-pointer by Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards in Game 3 on Friday night.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers’ Struggle
The Lakers weren’t good enough, losing 116-104 to the Timberwolves in a Game 3 they had chances to win before Minnesota slammed the door to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series. “In the postseason, obviously you’re not gonna play a perfect game,” James said. “But the more that you make mistakes on top of mistakes on top of mistakes, things that can be controlled, then it’s not gonna give you an opportunity to be in the best possible chance to win.” The Lakers committed 19 turnovers. They gave up nine offensive rebounds. Minnesota took 13 more shots and scored 10 more points in transition.
LeBron James’ Performance
Lakers star LeBron James splits the Minnesota defense to score on a layup in the first half of Game 3.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
James, though, was sublime. Still stimulated by the chance to silence a road playoff crowd, he played with his most energy all series. He pointed over at the bench after he scored on a midrange jumper when the Lakers executed a play called for him early. He held his three-point celebration in the fourth quarter when he shot the Lakers back into the game. He flew for rebounds and moved his feet on defense in a 38-point, 41-minute game. It was the most points scored in a playoff game by a player over 40.
The Road Ahead
The combination of the shrunken margins put the Lakers’ season a step closer to conclusion, the team now needing to steal a win Sunday in the shortest turnaround in the series. Despite being sick, Doncic still played 40 minutes. Reaves played 41. They’ll need to recapture their energy from Game 2 on light rest to avoid facing elimination in Game 5. “We got to control the controllables,” James said. “And I don’t think we did that tonight obviously. Nineteen turnovers on the road is not gonna be a good ingredient for winning. Giving up [28] points off those turnovers — they had 20-plus points in transition as well. We gotta control the controllables and if we do, we give ourselves chance to win.”
Conclusion
The Lakers face a crucial Game 4, needing to correct their mistakes and find a way to contain the Timberwolves’ offense. With LeBron James leading the charge, they have a chance to even the series. However, the task won’t be easy, and the Lakers must be great, not just good, to succeed.
FAQs
- Q: What was the final score of Game 3 between the Lakers and the Timberwolves?
A: The Timberwolves won 116-104. - Q: How many points did LeBron James score in Game 3?
A: LeBron James scored 38 points in 41 minutes. - Q: What is the current state of the series?
A: The Timberwolves lead the series 2-1. - Q: What do the Lakers need to do to stay in the series?
A: The Lakers need to control their mistakes, reduce turnovers, and improve their defense to have a chance to win. - Q: When is the next game in the series?
A: The next game, Game 4, will be played on Sunday, with the Lakers looking to even the series.
