In the third quarter of the game, Anthony Davis sustained an ankle injury when he accidentally stepped on the foot of Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel. However, this setback did not hinder Davis from delivering an outstanding performance. He played a pivotal role in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 123-111 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, contributing an impressive 38 points and 17 rebounds. With this win, the Lakers ascended to the seventh spot in the Western Conference standings. In addition, their season winning percentage exceeded .500 after this remarkable triumph, with 39 wins and 38 losses.
Despite his ankle injury, Davis showcased his tenacity and resilience, scoring 17 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter. Lakers coach Darvin Ham provided an update on Davis’ condition, stating, “He’s good, he powered through. I think it’s just a twisted ankle.” Davis himself expressed his determination to play through the injury, remarking, “I knew I was going to play. I tied my shoes tighter and relied on adrenaline until the end of the game, and then I received some treatment. But I’ll be fine.”
Wolves coach Chris Finch commended Davis for his exceptional gameplay and resilience despite the injury, acknowledging, “He kicked our a in every way possible.”
Meanwhile, Lakers’ star LeBron James delivered a solid performance with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the game. Considering his recent return from a foot injury, this performance was considered slightly below his usual standards.
Up next, the Lakers are set to face the Houston Rockets on Sunday. The Rockets currently reside at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, making them seem like a relatively easy opponent for the Lakers.
