With an incredible performance that included 27 points, 25 rebounds, 7 steals, 5 assists, and 3 blocks that had never been seen in the NBA, Anthony Davis helped the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-109 on Sunday, eliminating yet another elite foe.
Following victories against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 team in the West, and the Milwaukee Bucks, the No. 2 club in the East, L.A. concluded the week with a victory over the latter two teams.
“I think we’re hitting our stride right now,” Davis said after the win lifted the Lakers to six games above .500 for the first time all season. “We’re just trying to keep going, keep pushing, knowing that just like last year, all we got to do is get in. We feel like it’s tough for anybody to beat us in a seven-game series. … We like our chances against anybody at that point.”
Due to left shoulder pain from a Friday collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, Davis was listed as questionable going into the game. When Davis was benched and put out of the game, the Lakers medical staff put a hot pack on his shoulder.
“I felt it at times out there,” Davis said of his shoulder soreness. “I still kind of feel it.”
Davis made his presence felt against a Minnesota team missing its two star big men in Rudy Gobert (right hamstring) and Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee).
“A Hall of Fame performance,” Lakers wingman Taurean Prince said of Davis’ night, in which he became the first player with at least 25 points, 25 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a game since steals became an official stat in 1973-74.
LeBron James, who was playing after recovering from a painful left ankle, put up 29 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, but it was all overshadowed by Davis’ incredible performance.
In December 2015, Lou Williams was the last Lakers player to have as many thefts as Davis did, setting a career high. With one rebound short of his career high, Davis’s total was the highest by a Lakers player since Dwight Howard in January 2013.
The day before his 31st birthday, Davis completed the task.
“It was before my birthday, so I guess we can [count it],” Davis said. “It’s actually the first time I’m able to celebrate my birthday in my entire career at, like, home. On my actual birthday.”
With 16 games left, Los Angeles is only two games behind the sixth-ranked Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference. The Lakers have said that placing sixth or higher in the regular season is their objective in order to avoid the play-in round.
“Regardless of where we stand, if we go put our best foot forward and play the basketball that we know we can play … I think if you go ask anybody in our locker room, we’re super confident with what we have,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves said.