Game Grades: Lakers Can’t Out-Tank Wolves, Grab Win

Los Angeles Lakers

101

Final

Minnesota Timberwolves

Note: we’ll be grading the players on how well they contributed to the tank.

MVP: It was a tough night for the tank as the Lakers were bailed out by a bad foul by the Timberwolves which put Jordan Clarkson on the line to win the game with 0.3 seconds left. Despite that, the game went to overtime because of a Chase Budinger three, but he will share the award with Andrew Wiggins, who played 49 minutes and scored 27 points. Valiant efforts, gentlemen. Special shout-out to Ryan Kelly for missing the wide-open possible game-winner at the end of regulation

LVP: Again, we’re going with Jordan Clarkson. While he didn’t pour in 30 points tonight, he was the Lakers’ leading scorer with 20 points and hit the two free throws with 0.3 seconds left in OT to win the game. A 20/5/5 split is nice and all, but this was a crucial tanking game.

Stat of the Night: 44-32. Points in the paint. Despite the Lakers not playing Jordan Hill or Carlos Boozer, they dominated the paint. This was not only the big men scoring, but also the the guards getting to the paint and scoring at the rim.

The Starters

JEREMY LIN

PG | Los Angeles Lakers

C+

29 min, 6-14 FG, 1-5 3P, 6-6 FT, 19 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO

RYAN KELLY

PF | Los Angeles Lakers

B+

37 min, 4-13 FG, 1-8 3P, 2-2 FT, 11 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO

The aforementioned missed buzzer beater by Kelly was one of nine misses tonight, a valiant tanking effort.

JORDAN CLARKSON

PG | Los Angeles Lakers

38 min, 6-16 FG, 0-1 3P, 8-8 FT, 20 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TO

It’s not nearly as upsetting when the Lakers win with big contributions for Clarkson, which is something many fans have been clamoring for all season.

WESLEY JOHNSON

SF | Los Angeles Lakers

21 min, 3-6 FG, 0-2 3P, 0-0 FT, 6 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO

12 more games of

TARIK BLACK

C | Los Angeles Lakers

30 min, 5-6 FG, 1-2 FT, 11 PTS, 7 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO

Despite his solid stat line,

The Bench

ED DAVIS

PF | Los Angeles Lakers

C-

22 min, 7-9 FG, 0-0 FT, 14 PTS, 9 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO

The decision to keep

ROBERT SACRE

C | Los Angeles Lakers

A-

16 min, 2-5 FG, 0-0 FT, 4 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO

Choosing to play

WAYNE ELLINGTON

SG | Los Angeles Lakers

39 min, 3-19 FG, 1-7 3P, 0-0 FT, 7 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO

19 shots from

JABARI BROWN