Luka Doncic posted 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 120-106 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves in a battle of playoff-hopeful Western Conference teams yesterday (Philippine time).
Austin Reaves scored 31 points and Deandre Ayton added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who pulled level with the Timberwolves, both with 40-25 records.
Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker for fourth place in the West thanks to sweeping the three-game season series.
Los Angeles shot 48.4 percent from the floor while winning for the sixth time in the past seven games. The Lakers have won each of their past three games, all without LeBron James (hip/foot).
Anthony Edwards scored 14 points for the Timberwolves while shooting 2-of-15 from the floor and 1-of-10 from three-point range.
Juluis Randle also had 14 while Naz Reid and Ayo Dosunmu each added 13 as Minnesota lost its second consecutive game following a five-game winning streak.
The Timberwolves shot 46.2 percent from the floor in the opener of a four-game road trip that ends with a visit to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Los Angeles took charge by outscoring Minnesota 39-23 in the third quarter to take an 84-68 lead. The Timberwolves did not make their first field goal in the third until Reid sank a floater with 5:58 remaining in the period.
Reaves scored 16 in the third and Doncic added 14 for the Lakers, who put together a 13-4 run to take a 67-54 lead.
As tempers flared between the teams, a Donte DiVincenzo dunk pulled the Timberwolves within 99-84 with 7:08 remaining before consecutive three-pointers, by Marcus Smart and Doncic, put the Lakers up 105-84 with 6:30 left.
The Lakers scored just 16 points in the first quarter on 28 percent shooting but pulled even 45-45 entering halftime.
Randle scored 12 points for Minnesota in the first half, while Edwards was held to three points on 1-of-10 shooting, 0-of-6 from three-point range.
Ayton had 12 points with 11 rebounds for Los Angeles at the break, while Doncic also had 12 points en route to his seventh triple-double of the season. (Field Level Media / Reuters)