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Dave McMenamin, ESPN writer
LOS ANGELES – Anthony Davis set a historic stat line – his 27 points, 25 rebounds, 7 steals, 5 assists and 3 blocks have never been replicated before in the league – and the Los Angeles Lakers took down another top-tier opponent by defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-109 Sunday.
The win over the No. 2 team in the Western Conference capped a week in which Los Angeles also beat the No. 1 team in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I think we're hitting our stride now,” Davis said after taking the Lakers to six games above .500 for the first time all season. “We're just trying to keep going, keep pushing, knowing that like last year, all we have to do is get in. We feel like it's hard for anyone to beat us in a seven-game series. … We like our chances against anyone At that point.”
Davis entered tonight questionable due to left shoulder soreness resulting from his collision with Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo on Friday. The Lakers' medical staff wrapped Davis' shoulder with a heat pack when he was substituted out of the game and onto the bench.
“I felt it at times,” Davis said of his shoulder pain. “I still kind of feel it.”
Davis made his presence felt against a Minnesota team that was missing superstars Rudy Gobert (right hamstring) and Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee).
“Hall of Fame performance,” Lakers wing Taurean Prince said of Davis' night, in which he became the first player to record at least 25 points, 25 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a game since steals became an official statistic in 1973. -74.
It was a great game for Davis as LeBron James returned from a left ankle injury to score 29 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 9 assists and 8 rebounds.
Davis' seven steals were a career high and the most by a Lakers player since Lou Williams in December 2015. Davis' rebound total was one shy of his career high and the most by a Lakers player since Dwight Howard in January 2013.
Davis did it the day before his 31st birthday.
“It was before my birthday, so I guess we could do it [count it]“It's actually the first time in my entire career I've been able to celebrate my birthday at home, for example,” Davis said. On my actual birthday.”
Los Angeles is No. 9 in the West with 16 games remaining — just two games behind the No. 6 Phoenix Suns. The Lakers have stated their goal is to avoid a play-in championship by finishing sixth or better this season.
“No matter what our situation is, if we go out and play our best and play the basketball that we know we can play… I think if you go and ask anyone in our locker room, we're very confident in what we have,” Lakers guard Austin Reeves said.
