LAKERS Vs TIMBERWOLVES - Full Game Highlights

Los Angeles Lakers rallied from being down 11 points at halftime to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-102 in overtime, giving them a share of the 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and setting up an exciting first round matchup against Memphis Grizzlies.

Both teams endured a brutal game. Los Angeles struggled offensively, while Minnesota raced out to an early 15-point lead before the Lakers mounted a comeback in the third quarter.

LeBron James

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied past Minnesota Timberwolves 108-102 in overtime to claim victory in the NBA Play-in game and secure seventh seed in Western Conference. This sets up a first round matchup against Memphis Grizzlies.

At the start of the third quarter, Los Angeles trailed by 15 points but quickly erased that deficit to tie the game at 60-49. They maintained their lead throughout, outscoring Minnesota Timberwolves 54-36 in the paint, 40-20 off the bench and 15-12 on fast breaks.

In the fourth quarter, Anthony Davis gave Los Angeles a commanding lead with 10 of his 24 points scored within 12 minutes. Additionally, he added a block and steal to help ensure their place in the playoffs.

Davis had some help on the scoreboard from Dennis Schroder, who played an integral role off the bench. He scored 21 points in 43 minutes, including a key three-pointer at the end of regulation and overtime that gave Los Angeles a 98-95 advantage with 1.6 seconds left to play.

With 0.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Davis made a foul on Wolves guard Mike Conley while trying to shoot a three-pointer. Unfortunately, Davis was unable to draw attention from his defense and Conley was able to make it count with an easy shot from beyond the arc.

Davis had been struggling with foul trouble this season. Despite only being given four fouls, he still managed to hit some key shots down the stretch. It was an incredible milestone for Davis.

He made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, including one from deep to finish with 30 points for the night. Additionally, he added a layup in overtime to help the Lakers escape a tight situation.

James' postgame reaction was quite different than expected. As he reflected on the game, James was more than content to poke fun at his frontcourt partner Anthony Davis.

In an interview with ESPN, James joked about Davis' misplay and described it as a "brain fart" that "messed up" the game-winner. He also used the expression "tongue-in-cheek." It was nice to see LeBron have fun with it and not take himself too seriously; something the Lakers can learn from as they prepare to head to Memphis for the first round of playoffs.

Rui Hachimura

Rui Hachimura, a junior guard for Gonzaga University, is widely considered the best player in the country and an elite prospect for the 2019 NBA draft.

From Toyama Prefecture in Japan, he has been an important player on the Gonzaga Bulldogs since his freshman year. He earned several accolades including WCC Player of the Year and semifinalist status for Naismith Player of the Year award.

Scouts have told The Undefeated that he has an excellent chance to be among the top 10 picks in next season's draft. Additionally, ESPN's mock draft projects him as a top 20 player.

He is averaging 20.6 points and 6.7 rebounds this season for the Bulldogs, who are 29-2 and have won three straight games. As an integral member of a team seeking its first national championship and looking to become the first Japanese national team to win the NCAA tournament, He plays an integral role in helping his side become that first Japanese national team champion ever.

Hachimura is one of four players on the roster who could be selected in the draft. Other potential draft picks include forward Brandon Clarke and guard Zach Norvell.

His performance has made him an attractive prospect for several teams, such as the Los Angeles Lakers. His high energy level will serve him well in developing into a player.

With his game improving, he is expected to earn more money and play in more minutes this season. Unfortunately, as a restricted free agent it's impossible to predict what his future with the Lakers will hold.

He has the potential to be a great ball handler and shooter, possessing excellent ball handling and shooting skills. Additionally, he is an adaptable player who can play inside or outside depending on the matchup.

Hachimura has made a major impact on the Lakers this season despite his limited playing time. While shooting has been an issue, he's also displaying great versatility and is beginning to shine on the court.

He's already proven to be a formidable opponent on defense, capable of switching between guards and covering both bigs and smalls. With good feet and strength to hold up a center in late-game situations, he could prove an invaluable addition to the Lakers' bench in the future.

Anthony Edwards

The 7-8 play-in game was an exercise in sloppy basketball that could have easily unraveled. But the Lakers kept fighting, eventually pulling out a 108-102 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves to secure their spot as seventh seed in the West and advance to face Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies for a best-of-seven series.

The Lakers had led by as many as 15 points before a disjointed fourth quarter turned the tide. Rui Hachimura made an incredible block on All-Star Anthony Edwards, but LeBron James was just as effective down the stretch - finishing with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting and making one last basket to force overtime.

Edwards was an important cog in keeping the Wolves in this game despite his offensive struggles. His aggressive defensive play took D'Angelo Russell out of the contest, while also contributing with some key steals and assists.

His performance was a major boost for a Timberwolves team that has struggled on the road this season, losing four of its last five games. His contribution is especially crucial, as they need their bench players to step up and help them win in the playoffs.

After some early struggles this season, Edwards has been on a roll lately. Over his first three games since returning from injury, he averaged 20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists - albeit with an increase in shot percentage (47.9% to 45.5%).

He's been sidelined for three games due to an ankle sprain, but practiced Friday anyway. According to Chris Haynes of Turner Sports, the Timberwolves are confident he'll return in action against the Warriors on Sunday afternoon.

Edwards is expected to replace Jordan McLaughlin as the primary ball-handler in the starting lineup upon his return. However, he may face some limitations after missing three straight games. The Timberwolves hope to continue their impressive play against LAKERS and take control of the Western Conference playoff race.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Alexander-Walker had a relatively minor role in the game, yet still provided Minnesota with some solid minutes and helped them come out on top. In 15 minutes of action in Friday's 112-108 triumph over Orlando, he had two points (1-4 FG, 0-2 3Pt), two rebounds and two steals - adding up to an impressive 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game over his last four outings; providing depth at point guard as Mike Conley returns from injury.

On Saturday, Alexander-Walker contributed 12 points (4-5 FG, 4-4 3Pt) over 16 minutes in a loss to Phoenix. Although he's only started one game this season, Alexander-Walker already made an impression with his long range shooting ability.

The Timberwolves held a commanding lead of up to 15 points at halftime thanks to their outside shooting, and that momentum carried into the second quarter with back-to-back threes from Taurean Prince and Kyle Anderson. Overall, they went 9-17 from deep in the first half and are 12-of-23 this game overall.

In the fourth quarter, the Lakers appeared drained and lack motivation to win a game against an injury-plagued team with limited depth. They scored just 14 points in that quarter and turned the ball over on nine of their first 15 possessions - an indication of lack of focus that was evident throughout most of the night.

Even when the Lakers made a major comeback to tie it up, they still struggled with shot selection and playmaking. Additionally, they missed numerous open shots and committed numerous turnovers.

They had a chance to seal the deal in the final seconds of regulation, but couldn't make the right move. In the end, the Lakers settled for a hard-fought win on Tuesday night and now will rest up before beginning their playoff series against Memphis Grizzlies.

On Tuesday night, LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 52 points plus 21 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 blocks and 4 steals to help the Lakers pull away with a 94-92 victory. Dennis Dennis had his best game of the season by scoring 21 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime. Furthermore, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels were held to just three points on 3-of-17 shooting and 4-of-14 from beyond the arc.