Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) goes to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jordan McLaughlin, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) strips the ball from Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James passes around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) dribbles against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) reaches for an errant pass as Minnesota Timberwolves center Luka Garza (55) pursues during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, right, chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, center right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns stands on the sideline during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, dunks over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, center, through a screen set by forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5), Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) and Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) wait for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forwards LeBron James, left, and Anthony Davis, right, sit on the bench before an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) sits on the bench before an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) is blocked by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards as forward T.J. Warren (24) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) defends Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) drives against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) grabs a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) blocks Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) reacts to a referee as center Jaxson Hayes (11) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) grabs a rebound over Los Angeles Lakers forwards Taurean Prince (12) and Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LOS ANGELES — Despite struggling with ball security for the first three quarters, the Lakers showed in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves what kind of team they can be when they buckle down.
Anthony Davis (27 points, 25 rebounds, seven steals, five assists and three blocks) dominated the interior just days after injuring his left shoulder, taking advantage of the smaller Timberwolves, who were without their starting big men in Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Rudy Gobert (right hamstring).
LeBron James was steady after his one-game absence because of his ailing left ankle, finishing with 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds and providing bursts in the second half that helped give the Lakers significant leads.
And when the Lakers (36-30) started to take care of the ball and locked in defensively, the Timberwolves (44-21) couldn’t keep up, leading to a 120-109 Lakers win that put them at six games over .500 for the first time this season.
“We’re trending in the right direction,” coach Darvin Ham said. “It’s a huge upswing in the way we’re playing. We’re playing for one another, bringing the effort, playing hard, some great winning plays.
“Guys are in a good space. When you’re in a good mental space, spiritual space, physically, we’ll be getting some guys back here pretty soon hopefully. We just got to keep trending in this direction.”
With James and Davis leading the way, all five Laker starters scored at least 13 points.
The Lakers, who turned the ball over 18 times for 26 Timberwolves’ points in the first 36 minutes, entered the fourth trailing 92-91 despite their hot shooting because of their giveaways.
“Had too many unforced errors out there,” Ham said. “I’m not the turnover coach, I love competitive turnovers, guys trying to play the right way but just the senseless, no defensive pressure or anything like that, those type of turnovers. And when they’re live-ball turnovers, those we’ve got to eliminate.”
But once they dialed in, they blew the game open, starting the fourth with a 21-4 run to go up 112-96 midway through the quarter after James, who scored 21 second-half points, assisted Austin Reaves (19 points, six rebounds, four assists) on a corner 3-pointer to give the Lakers their largest led of the game.
The Lakers only committed one turnover in the fourth’s first 11 minutes before both teams took their rotation players out, with the Lakers leading 120-107.
Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid lead the Timberwolves with 25 points apiece.
D’Angelo Russell had 13 points and six assists while Rui Hachimura scored 15 points.
Davis’ rebounding total was his most with the Lakers and the most by a Lakers player since Dwight Horward’s 26 on Jan. 6, 2013, vs. the Denver Nuggets. His 10 offensive rebounds also tied a career-high. Davis had eight points and 11 rebounds (four offensive rebounds) in the fourth.
He’s the first player in NBA history to record at least 25 points, 25 rebounds, five assists, five steals and three blocks in a game.
“Effort, just knowing the importance of the game,” Davis said of his performance “This team [was No. 2] in the West, it’s still a good team. Just wanted to come out as a team effort, knowing that wherever you are in the standings and how important this game was, we’re trying to close the gap in the standings.”
The Lakers haven’t been at least six games over .500 since the end of the 2020-21 season. They’ve picked up recent wins over top teams in the standings: the Oklahoma City Thunder last Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and the Timberwolves on Sunday.
“We’re starting to find the right lineups,” Davis said. “Obviously, that can change when [Jarred Vanderbilt] comes back. He’s a big part of our defense and what we do. But at the same time, we’re hitting our stride right now. We’ve had some really good wins.
“But as far as me and Bron, we’re just trying to keep going, keep pushing, knowing that just like last year, all we gotta do is get in. We feel like it’s tough for anybody to beat us in a seven-game series. We just try to stay the course, take it one game at a time, and then whether it’s Play-In or make top six, then we lock in and focus on that opponent. And we like our chances against anybody at that point.”
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