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Dave McMenamin, ESPN writer
LOS ANGELES – Anthony Davis achieved a historic statistic: his 27 points, 25 rebounds, 7 steals, 5 assists and 3 blocks had never before been replicated in the league, and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated another top opponent. by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-109 on Sunday.
The victory over the No. 2 team in the Western Conference capped a week in which Los Angeles also emerged victorious against the No. 1 team in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I think we’re moving along at a good pace right now,” Davis said after the victory moved the Lakers to six games over .500 for the first time all season. “We’re just trying to keep going, keep pushing, knowing that, just like last year, all we have to do is go in. We feel like it’s hard for anyone to beat us in a seven-game series… “As our chances against anyone at that time.”
Davis came into the night listed as questionable with left shoulder soreness due to a collision with the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo on Friday. The Lakers’ medical staff wrapped a heat pack on Davis’ shoulder when he was substituted out of the game and on the bench.
“Sometimes I felt it,” Davis said of his shoulder pain. “I’m still sorry.”
Davis made his presence felt against a Minnesota team that was missing its two biggest stars: 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 one game since steals became an official statistic in 1973. -74.
It was such a good game for Davis that LeBron James, who was returning from a sore left ankle to score 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting, 9 assists and 8 rebounds, was completely overshadowed.
Davis’ 7 steals were a career-high and the most by a Lakers player since Lou Williams in December 2015. Davis’ rebound total was one shy of his career-high and the most a Lakers player since Dwight Howard in January 2013.
And Davis did it the day before his 31st birthday.
“It was before my birthday, so I guess we can (count it),” Davis said. “It’s actually the first time I’ve been able to celebrate my birthday at home in my entire career. On my actual birthday.”
Los Angeles is No. 9 in the West with 16 games remaining, just two games behind the No. 6 Phoenix Suns. The Lakers have stated that their goal is to avoid the play-in tournament by finishing the season sixth or better.
“Regardless of our position, if we give our best and play the basketball that we know we can play… I think if you ask anyone in our locker room, we have a lot of confidence in what we have,” said the Los Angeles guard. Lakers, Austin Reaves.