Lakers OT Win Gets Twitter Riled Up

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Minnesota Timberwolves v Los Angeles Lakers - Play-In Tournament
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores on a layup during a 108-102 Los Angeles Lakers win in a play-in tournament game at Crypto.com Arena on April 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Twitter couldn't look away from the Lakers' OT win.

The NBA playoffs are finally here. As has been the tradition since 2021, proceedings begin with the Play-In tournament. The four-team event determines the seventh and eighth seeds for both conferences. This year, the Lakers, Timberwolves, Pelicans, and Thunder contest the West. Meanwhile, the Hawks, Heat, Raptors, and Bulls will battle it out in the East. As is the nature of the NBA's depth of talent, some big-name stars will be getting a headstart on the offseason.

LeBron and the Lakers, who finished seventh in the regular-season standings. took on the Rudy Gobert-less Timberwolves. The winner would take the seventh seed and a first-round matchup against the Grizzlies. Earlier in the day, former Laker Kyle Kuzma had voiced his support for the LA squad as they looked to repeat their 2021 Play-In success. However, the Lakers had struggled against Minnesota, going 1-2 in their three regular-season matchups.

Lakers Clinch Seventh Seed In Overtime

Even without Gobert, the Timberwolves didn't make things easy for the Lakers. Behind big performances from Karl-Anthony Towns and Mike Conley, the Timberwolves led by 11 at halftime. However, Minnesota's lack of depth, and a poor night for Anthony Edwards, prevented the Timberwolves from ever running away with the game. Edwards, averaging nearly 25 points per game this season, scored just nine against the Lakers while also going 0-9 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Wolves got just 20 points from their four-man bench. In comparison, the Lakers bench saw Dennis Schoeder alone score 21. The Wolves also lacked a presence in the paint, putting up just four offensive rebounds all game.

Despite their opponent's struggles and a game-leading 30 points from LeBron, the Lakers still needed overtime to clinch the win. Up three with 0.1 seconds on the clock, Anthony Davis got called for a costly foul on Mike Conley. Conley drilled a trio of free throws to tie the game at 98 at the end of regulation. Despite this mistake, the Lakers pulled away in overtime to take a 108-102 win. They will now travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies in the first round. For the Timberwolves, their playoff hopes are still alive. They will face the winner of the Pelicans-Thunder game to determine the eighth seed.

Twitter Reacts

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About The Author
Ben Mock
Benjamin Mock (they/them) is a sports and culture writer working out of Philadelphia. Previously writing for the likes of Fixture, Dexerto, Fragster, and Jaxon, Ben has dedicated themselves to engaging and accessible articles about sports, esports, and internet culture. With a love for the weirder stories, you never quite know what to expect from their work.
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