03/11/26 12:49:00
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03/11 00:42 CDT Luka's 31, Reaves' big 2nd half propel Lakers to season sweep
of Timberwolves with 120-106 victory
Luka's 31, Reaves' big 2nd half propel Lakers to season sweep of Timberwolves
with 120-106 victory
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Luka Doncic had 31 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in
his seventh triple-double of the season, and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame
LeBron James' latest injury absence to sweep their season series with the
Minnesota Timberwolves with a 120-106 victory Tuesday night.
Austin Reaves scored 29 of his 31 points in a scorching second half for the
Lakers (40-25), who pulled even with Minnesota for fourth place in the Western
Conference standings after their third straight win over the team that knocked
them out of the first round of last season's playoffs.
Doncic secured the 89th triple-double of his career --- seventh-most in NBA
history --- early in the fourth quarter. Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 12
rebounds in a strong effort with both of his backup big men sidelined.
James sat out for the third straight game with injuries for the Lakers, who
have still won three straight and six of seven. He also missed the Lakers'
first two wins over Minnesota this season back in October.
The Lakers improved to 13-8 without the top scorer in NBA history in their
lineup, including 10-2 when Doncic and Reaves both play without James.
Julius Randle scored 14 points and Anthony Edwards finished with 14 points on a
2-for-15 shooting night for Minnesota, which has lost two straight after a
five-game winning streak. Four Timberwolves bench players scored in double
figures in the opener of a four-game trip.
Both teams were mostly awful on offense in the first half. The Lakers missed 17
of their first 21 shots during their 16-point first quarter.
But after a 1-for-8 first half, Reaves scored 16 points in the third quarter
while the Lakers pushed their lead to 19. Reaves completed two four-point plays
in the second half, and he finished with a season-high seven 3-pointers.
Up next
Timberwolves: At Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Lakers: Host Chicago on Thursday.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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