Player Performance Breakdown: Lakers vs. Timberwolves – Grades and Highlights!

On Thursday, the Lakers managed to hold on for a win against the Wolves after a strong start. It wasn’t the cleanest game, though. LA struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 26.8% of their 3-point attempts. They also had a rough night at the free-throw line, making about 69.6% of their shots.

Despite some individual struggles, it’s important to remember that not every win has to look pretty. Reflecting on their earlier matchups with the Wolves this season, fans can appreciate this victory.

Now let’s break down the performances of the players in this game. A grade of “B” indicates an average performance.

Rui Hachimura

18 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, +21

Rui’s injury is disappointing. Like Coach JJ Redick, I won’t speculate on how serious it is, but we hope he won’t be out for long. He was starting to show his skills on both ends of the court, and we want him back soon.

Grade: B

LeBron James

37 minutes, 33 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 11-21 FG, 4-9 3PT, 7-10 FT, +12

LeBron continues to amaze us. He has adapted his game again, spending more time off the ball and grabbing more rebounds, although his assists have dipped a bit. It’s always exciting to see him finish off those fast breaks.

Grade: A

Jaxson Hayes

23 minutes, 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 3-5 FG, 4-6 FT, +18

Hayes stepped up nicely in Rui’s absence. He did well against Naz Reid, who struggled throughout the game. This performance follows a series of strong showings since the Anthony Davis trade.

Grade: A-

Austin Reaves

38 minutes, 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 11-12 FT, +9

Reaves was one of the few Lakers who shot well. Watching him adapt to his changing role this season is impressive. Now, he’s contributing significantly as a secondary scorer with 20 points per game.

Grade: A-

Luka Dončić

36 minutes, 21 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 6-20 FG, 1-9 3PT, 8-12 FT, +0

This was a tough game for Luka. He struggled to find his shot and didn’t look like himself. Still, he came through with a crucial basket when it mattered most. Let’s hope he shakes off this rust quickly.

Grade: D+

Dorian Finney-Smith

31 minutes, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1-4 FG, 1-4 3PT, +1

Finney-Smith didn’t have his best outing, but he may need to elevate his game if Rui needs to sit out. His experience will be valuable going forward.

Grade: C+

Gabe Vincent

20 minutes, 4 points, 1 rebound, 1-6 FG, 0-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, -5

Vincent has been struggling lately, shooting poorly over the last few games. Hopefully, he’ll get back into form soon, as the team needs him at his best.

Grade: D

Jarred Vanderbilt

13 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-2 FT, -17

Vanderbilt had a challenging game. While he did make a corner 3-pointer and assisted LeBron, we need to see more consistency from him.

Grade: C-

Jordan Goodwin

13 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3PT, +8

Goodwin had a solid performance and showed his value to the team. The Lakers might need to consider signing him full-time by the end of the season.

Grade: B+

Dalton Knecht

11 minutes, 1 rebound, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-2 FT, -2

Knecht could really use a breakout game soon. His early season success feels distant right now.

Grade: F

JJ Redick

Redick might have been more proactive with timeouts during Wolves’ runs, but, overall, the Lakers responded well. Perhaps he knows his team better than anyone else.

Grade: B

Thursday’s DNPs: Alex Len, Shake Milton, Markieff Morris, Cam Reddish

Thursday’s inactives: Bronny James, Trey Jemison III, Christian Koloko, Maxi Kleber