LeBron James powered the Los Angeles Lakers to their fourth straight victory Thursday night, posting 33 points and 17 rebounds in a hard-fought 111-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Austin Reaves added 23 points, while Luka Doncic contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Lakers improved to 14-3 since Jan. 21.Â
Los Angeles dominated early, building a 23-point lead in the second quarter, but Minnesota clawed back, even after losing Anthony Edwards to an ejection late in the third. The Timberwolves cut a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to just three, but Doncic silenced the rally with a clutch off-balance three-pointer as the shot clock expired, pushing the Lakers’ lead back to seven.Â
James matched his season-high with 17 rebounds and hit a key early three to give Los Angeles a 47-24 advantage, setting the tone for another strong performance as the surging Lakers continue their playoff push. Let’s provide a grade for every Laker on Thursday night.Â
LeBron James: A+
Stats: 33 PTS, 17 REB (5 OREB, 12 DREB), 6 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO, 1 PF, 11-21 FG, 4-9 3PT, 7-10 FT, +12, 37 MIN
LeBron put on a dominant all-around performance, leading his team with 33 points while pulling down 17 rebounds and dishing out six assists. His efficiency was solid, shooting 11-of-21 from the field and knocking down four three-pointers. Even at this stage of his career, he controlled the game’s tempo, making big plays on both ends and providing leadership throughout. His impact was undeniable despite four turnovers, finishing with a game-high +12 plus-minus.
Austin Reaves: B+
Stats: 23 PTS, 6 REB (3 OREB, 3 DREB), 5 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 3 PF, 5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 11-12 FT, +9, 38 MIN
Reaves provided a strong offensive boost, scoring 23 points and efficiently getting to the free-throw line, where he converted 11-of-12 attempts. His ability to draw fouls and knock down shots kept the defense on edge, and he contributed six rebounds and five assists to round out his performance. He did have four turnovers, but his defensive activity, including two steals, helped make up for it.
Luka Doncic: B
Stats: 21 PTS, 13 REB (2 OREB, 11 DREB), 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 6-20 FG, 1-9 3PT, 8-12 FT, 0, 36 MIN
Doncic struggled with his shot, hitting just 6-of-20 from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc, but he still managed to stuff the stat sheet with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. His free-throw shooting (8-of-12) helped mitigate his inefficiency, but he couldn’t find his usual offensive rhythm. Despite an off-night shooting, he remained engaged and facilitated for his teammates while limiting turnovers.
Jaxson Hayes: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 7 REB (4 OREB, 3 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-6 FT, +18, 23 MIN
Hayes provided solid energy and interior presence, scoring 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds, four of which were on the offensive glass. He added a steal and a block, contributing on the defensive end as well. His ability to finish around the rim and crash the boards helped, but foul trouble limited his minutes.
Jordan Goodwin: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +8, 13 MIN
Goodwin made the most of his limited playing time, scoring seven points in just 13 minutes on an efficient 3-of-5 shooting. He added a steal and knocked down a three-pointer while maintaining a positive impact with a +8 plus-minus. Though his role was small, he brought defensive effort and energy off the bench.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-2 FT, -17, 13 MIN
Vanderbilt had a quiet night, scoring just five points in 13 minutes while grabbing two rebounds. He made his limited shot attempts efficiently, but his missed free throws (0-of-2) and lack of defensive impact were noticeable. His -17 plus-minus reflected his struggles, as he wasn’t able to influence the game much.
Rui Hachimura: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 2-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +21, 18 MIN
Hachimura had a decent all-around game, contributing five points, three rebounds, and two assists in 18 minutes. His shooting wasn’t great (2-of-6 from the field), but he made a three-pointer and played solid team defense. Despite not filling up the stat sheet, his presence helped the team maintain its lead when he was on the floor, evident by his +21 plus-minus.
Gabe Vincent: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 1-6 FG, 0-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, -5, 20 MIN
Vincent struggled offensively, scoring just four points on 1-of-6 shooting, including 0-of-5 from deep. He wasn’t able to get into a rhythm, and his lack of playmaking (zero assists) hurt his impact. However, he stayed engaged defensively and hit both of his free throws, but he’ll need to find his shooting touch moving forward.
Dorian Finney-Smith: C-
Stats: 3 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 1-4 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 31 MIN
Finney-Smith had a tough outing, finishing with just three points on 1-of-4 shooting while grabbing only one rebound in 31 minutes. His defensive presence was solid, as he added a steal, but foul trouble (four fouls) limited his aggressiveness. His inability to contribute offensively kept him from having a more significant impact.
Dalton Knecht: D
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-2 FT, -2, 11 MIN
Knecht had a rough night, failing to score in 11 minutes while missing both of his shot attempts. He grabbed just one rebound and struggled to make an impact on either end. His limited playing time and lack of production resulted in a quiet performance, and he’ll need to bounce back with a stronger effort next time.
