Los Angeles, Phoenix and Minneapolis — Three Western Conference clubs collected statement victories Monday night, highlighted by a late Lakers comeback, Devin Booker’s final-second heroics and a one-sided Timberwolves rout.
Lakers 120, Grizzlies 114
Trailing by 11 midway through the third quarter at Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles stormed back behind Luka Doncic’s 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. LeBron James added 26 points and 10 assists, putting the Lakers in front for good on a Doncic pull-up jumper with just over five minutes remaining.
Jake LaRavia scored 26 against his former team and Deandre Ayton contributed 15 for Memphis, which played without Ja Morant for the 15th time in 21 games. Los Angeles snapped a skid of four losses in five outings while still missing injured forwards Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves (calf).
Suns 108, Thunder 105
In Oklahoma City, Booker drilled a contested three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left, ending the Thunder’s four-game win streak. The All-Star guard finished with 28 points, while Jordan Goodwin delivered a career-best 26 points and eight three-pointers as Phoenix erased an early 18-point hole.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced Oklahoma City with 25 points, but the Thunder slipped to 30-6 after surrendering a four-point lead in the final minute.
Timberwolves 141, Wizards 115
Minnesota capped a 3-1 road swing by overwhelming Washington at Capital One Arena. Anthony Edwards poured in 35 points — 16 in the first quarter — and rested the entire fourth. Julius Randle added 22, and Rudy Gobert posted 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Timberwolves owned the paint, 76-48.
It marked Minnesota’s third game this season with at least 140 points, while Washington conceded 140-plus for the fourth time.
Source: Hoops Wire
