Luka Doncic hit a deep, off-balance three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to halt the Minnesota Timberwolves’ comeback attempt, but his father Sasa Doncic was not impressed.
With the Los Angeles Lakers clinging to a 93-90 lead, Doncic drained a contested 28-foot fadeaway as the shot clock expired, extending the lead to 98-91 with 3:37 remaining. The shot helped secure a 111-102 victory, marking the Lakers’ fourth straight win.
Cameras caught Sasa Doncic putting his hands on his face after the shot, seemingly stunned. When asked about his father’s reaction, Luka delivered a lighthearted response.
“He probably said, ‘Finally he made a shot,'” Doncic said, according to Jovan Buha. “I don’t think he was impressed. He said, ‘Finally he made a shot.'”
LeBron James led the way for Los Angeles with 33 points and 17 rebounds, matching his season-high on the glass. Austin Reaves added 23 points, while Doncic finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds. The Lakers have now won 14 of their last 17 games, improving to 36-21 and strengthening their hold on the Western Conference’s fourth seed.
Minnesota, now 32-28, struggled to overcome the absence of Anthony Edwards, who was ejected in the third quarter after receiving his second technical foul. The All-Star guard tossed the ball into the stands after his ejection, which could trigger a one-game suspension due to reaching the league’s 16-technical limit.
Before leaving the game, Edwards had 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. stepped up in his absence, scoring a career-high 25 points to keep the Timberwolves competitive. Jaden McDaniels contributed 15 points, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 14.
The Timberwolves trailed by as many as 23 points in the second quarter but fought back, cutting the deficit to 93-90 early in the fourth. However, Doncic’s difficult three-pointer swung momentum back in Los Angeles’ favor.
James and Reaves sealed the win at the free-throw line, fending off Minnesota’s late push. James dominated on the boards, while Reaves remained efficient, hitting 11 of 12 from the charity stripe.
Despite struggling from the field, Doncic made his presence felt in multiple areas. His clutch three-pointer was one of the game’s defining moments, even if his father wasn’t particularly impressed.
The Lakers shot 41.5% overall and 69.6% from the free-throw line but controlled the rebounding battle 52-41. Minnesota struggled from deep, hitting just 29.3% of its three-point attempts.
With the win, Los Angeles continued its strong run, while Minnesota has now lost five of its last seven games. The Timberwolves will need to regroup quickly, but Edwards’ possible suspension could complicate their next matchup.
