LeBron's big game helps Lakers fend off collapse for fourth straight win

Lakers star LeBron James (23) attempts to block a shot by Minnesota’s Terrence Shannon Jr. as forward Rui Hachimura looks on during the first half of Thursday’s 111-102 victory at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

As the second half began, the first row of seats directly across from the benches sat empty—not due to lack of interest, but because many courtside fans had left to attend a party inside the arena for Netflix’s Running Point, a comedy inspired by Lakers owner Jeanie Buss that premiered Thursday night.

Early in the third quarter, James found himself flying into those vacant seats while contesting a three-pointer by Naz Reid. The brief distraction was enough to force a miss, allowing the Lakers to push the ball in transition and score while James untangled himself from a collapsed row of chairs.

It was another example of James’ relentless effort for a Lakers squad that has emerged as one of the NBA’s toughest defensive teams. They proved that again Thursday, grinding out a win despite their offensive struggles.

"It’s good to win when you don’t have your best stuff," Austin Reaves said. "That’s how you build a really good record. You’re not going to play great every night, but finding ways to win those games is crucial."

James led the way with 33 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists, setting the tone for the Lakers’ defensive intensity. Reaves contributed 23 points, while Luka Dončić added 21 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.

The Lakers (36-21) stormed to a 23-point lead behind their smothering defense—now ranked the NBA’s most efficient over the past 20-plus games. Their success has propelled them to 15 games over .500 and into a tie in the loss column for third place in the Western Conference alongside the Denver Nuggets.

Minnesota (32-28), however, refused to go down without a fight. After losing Anthony Edwards to an ejection midway through the third quarter, the Timberwolves—already without Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert due to injuries—turned up the physicality and attacked the Lakers’ lead, cutting it down to just three points.

But Dončić came through in the clutch, sinking two key baskets, including an impossible, off-balance three-pointer as he fell out of bounds. That was enough to give the Lakers the breathing room they needed to close out a hard-fought win—one that, fittingly, ended with them battling for every last point.