The Los Angeles Lakers were competitive throughout Game 3, but 16 turnovers and being outscored by 30 points in the paint were pivotal factors in the Timberwolves’ victory, which extended their series lead to 2-1. With Sunday’s Game 4 fast approaching, the Lakers are facing an uphill battle.
A key storyline from Friday’s game was Luka Doncic, who was revealed to be battling a stomach illness during the first quarter. He had been throwing up leading up to the game and struggled with low energy throughout. Despite these challenges, Dončić played on, and his performance is one of the main talking points heading into Game 4
As of now, the biggest update for the Lakers is that Doncic is reportedly not listed on the injury report, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. This is crucial for Los Angeles as they look to avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole.
After being exceptional in the first two games of the series, Luka Doncic faced noticeable struggles in Game 3, with his illness becoming more apparent. He emerged late from the tunnel after halftime and had to come off the bench.
Doncic had a stellar start to the series, scoring 37 points in Game 1 and 31 points in Game 2. However, in Game 3, despite playing 39 minutes, he recorded just 17 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, shooting 6-for-16 from the field and 2-for-8 from beyond the arc. He also committed five turnovers in the loss
The full injury report for the Lakers has yet to be released, but the expectation is that no key players will be sidelined for the team’s upcoming road matchup.
