LeBron James on Tuesday scored 30 points as the Los Angeles Lakers muscled their way into the NBA playoffs with a thrilling come-from-behind 108-102 overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers clinched the seventh seed and advanced to a Western Conference first-round playoff series against the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies starting on Sunday after a pulsating duel at the Crypto.com Arena.
The Timberwolves have a second chance to reach the post-season when they face either the New Orleans Pelicans or Oklahoma City Thunder tomorrow when the eighth seeding in the Western Conference will be up for grabs.
Photo: AFP
“This is what our sport is all about — getting to April and having an opportunity to play in the post-season,” 38-year-old James said after the win. “We’ve been battle-tested all year, and since the All-Star break we’ve been playing some good basketball.”
A nerve-jangling fourth quarter saw the Lakers battle back from a 10-point deficit to move to the brink of victory after James engineered a three-pointer for German international Dennis Schroder to put Los Angeles 98-95 ahead with just 1.4 seconds remaining.
Just as the home crowd prepared to celebrate, Anthony Davis was called for a rash foul on Mike Conley as the Timberwolves veteran attempted a desperate game-tying late three.
Conley’s effort missed, but he duly stepped up to drain three free-throws under excruciating pressure to knot the game at 98-98 and force overtime.
However, the Lakers regrouped to start overtime with a flurry of points, Rui Hachimura’s three-pointer and a Schroder layup putting Los Angeles five points clear at 103-98.
The Lakers kept their noses in front and after a missed three-point attempt by Taurean Prince that could have tied it for Minnesota, the hosts closed out the win.
In Tuesday’s other play-in game, Trae Young scored 25 points as the Atlanta Hawks booked their place in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 116-105 win over the Miami Heat.
Atlanta’s bench combined to score 53 points to silence the Miami crowd and send the Hawks into a first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
Miami next face either the Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls to determine the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
“We brought the physicality to them,” Young said after the win.
“They’re known for being a very physical team and trying to bully a lot of teams on the defensive end, and if you don’t match their physicality you can get beat,” he said. “Tonight I think we matched their physicality and it showed.”
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