The Lakers survived the NBA play-in tournament, outlasting the Timberwolves, 108–102 in overtime Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
But the victory came with more anxiety than necessary for the hosts.
After trailing by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, the Lakers chipped away at Minnesota’s lead and finally tied the game with about two minutes left. When Dennis Schröder buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 1.4 seconds left in regulation to give Los Angeles a 98–95 lead, the game appeared to be all but over.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, star forward Anthony Davis committed a needless foul after Minnesota point guard Mike Conley Jr. missed a three-pointer from the right corner with 0.1 seconds left. That sent Conley to the free throw line for three shots and a chance to tie the game.
Sure enough, Conley made all three shots to force overtime.
Given Los Angeles’s ultimate victory, the Lakers were able to laugh about the sequence afterward.
"I messed his game winner up, I apologize." 🤣
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 12, 2023
AD had to show Schroder some love after the game pic.twitter.com/GauIYjkGCX
“It’s unfortunate that A.D. has a brain fart and messed [Schröder’s] game-winner up,” Lakers star LeBron James told TNT’s Allie LaForce in a postgame interview.
After getting teased by James, Davis owned his mistake.
“I messed [Schröder’s] game-winner up. I apologize. I definitely apologize,” Davis said after getting pulled into the on-court interview.
