Sports newsroom (USA), March 16 (EFE).- Los Angeles Lakers suffered their third consecutive defeat this Wednesday and the fifteenth in the last twenty games, falling 124-104 in their visit to the minnesota timberwolves of the hispanic Karl Anthony Townswhich continues to accelerate and press to seal a direct ticket to the playoffs.
After being completely overwhelmed by the phoenix suns and the Toronto Raptorsthe Lakers (29-40) crashed against a Towns who was the best of the Timberwolves with 30 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes on the track.
The player of Dominican origin, king of the triples in the last All-Star, was slowed down by fouls during the match, but despite not being able to play many minutes, he was once again decisive after sealing his points record against San Antonio in the NBA (60).
in the Lakers, Lebron James he scored 19 points, collected five rebounds and dished out four assists, but had a lousy one of eight 3-pointers on a bad day for his entire team, who only converted ten of 45 three-point attempts.
The Lakers are eighth in the West, while the Timberwolves are seventh (41-30), but getting closer to the Denver Nuggets (42-28). Of course, a very complicated calendar awaits them, with appointments against milwaukee buckstwice before the Dallas MavericksPhoenix Suns and boston celtics.
THE ANTHONY EDWARDS FESTIVAL
The Lakers continued to struggle at the beginning of the game and only scored 17 points in the first period, with a zero of ten in triples and a six of 21 in shots that took their toll on them and made them accumulate an early fourteen-point disadvantage after twelve minutes.
A tough adverse partial that confirmed the difficulties of Vogel’s team in assaulting the matches. In the last two games, they trailed by 14 points to the Phoenix Suns and by 21 to the Toronto Raptors after the first quarter.
The Timberwolves, in great athletic and mental form, were led by nine points from Karl Anthony Towns and Patrick Beverly, while Malik Beasleywith a great triple, and Anthony Edwards, with a basket on the counterattack, led to a 31-17 victory that left the Lakers wowed.
And the second quarter became a real nightmare for the Lakers. The Timberwolves’ lead reached 25 points at 51-26, with six minutes to play, with a great kill from Jarred Vanderbiltbut it was a colossal Anthony Edwards in sinking the Los Angeles team.
If LeBron and carmel anthony led the reaction, more pride than tactics, of the Lakers, Anthony scored twenty points in the second quarter, with five of seven triples and eleven consecutive points for the Timberwolves who escaped again until 67-46 at halftime.
He had 24 points at the break against some Lakers who continued to have tremendous trouble in the triples, connecting just two of 21, for nine of 22 of the Timberwolves.
THE LAKERS REACT, TOWNS FINISHES
The Lakers changed their pace in the second half and, based on great sets, gradually came back to within nine points to start the fourth period.
They unlocked themselves on three-point shots and after two of 21, converted six of fifteen, with a triple by Westbrook for 64-73 to complete an 18-4 run.
The Timberwolves could not count on Towns, loaded with fouls, and saw their percentages drop a lot, with a poor one of nine in triples that facilitated the comeback of the Lakers.
With work, Minnesota managed to recover a double-digit lead, but a three-pointer at the buzzer in the third quarter by DJ Augustin determined the 86-77 that gave the Lakers hope.
Another layup from Augustin brought them within four points, but then, with Towns back on the court, the Timberwolves were up to speed again.
They achieved a final period with 38 points and shielded their victory with several minutes in advance, with a twenty-point lead carried to the end 124-104.
The match closed in a big party atmosphere at the Target Center, with several fans taking off their shoes, as Towns usually does when he knows that the games are doomed.
Andrea Montolivo
(c) EFE Agency