
In the first round of the NBA playoffs, LeBron James is aware that the Los Angeles Lakers are facing a difficult situation.
In Game 3 on Friday, the Lakers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-104, giving the Timberwolves a two-game lead in the first round series. On a night when Luka Doncic was unwell, the Lakers lost to the hot Timberwolves despite a memorable effort by the 40-year-old James, who scored 38 points.
After the game, James told reporters that if the Lakers don’t improve immediately, they would be eliminated early from the playoffs.
“In the postseason, there is no room for error,” James stated.
There were other reasons for Friday’s defeat in Minnesota, even if James attributed the team’s defeat in Game 1 to unforced errors. Doncic, the Lakers’ major mid-season acquisition, had been ill for about a day before to Friday’s tipoff, Lakers head coach JJ Redick informed reporters.
“In a post on X, ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin stated that Luka Doncic “hasn’t been feeling well for the last 24 hours,” according to JJ Redick. “He said Doncic was ‘vomiting all afternoon’ and his sleep was impacted Thursday night heading into Game 3 on Friday.”
James didn’t seem to be searching for justifications or ethical triumphs. Prior to Friday’s game, the Lakers star stated that the team just needed to win, adding that his own strong performances meant nothing to him.
“There’s no moral victories in the postseason,” James said. “It doesn’t matter what the stat sheet looks like. It’s about winning the game.”
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