LEBRON James and the Los Angeles Lakers have won 108-102 in a thrilling overtime play-in tournament game on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves to advance to the playoffs.
However, NBA fans aren’t unanimously happy with the result — with some claiming the game was “rigged.”
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-102 in a thrilling overtime play-in gameCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Despite the result, NBA fans claimed the game was “rigged”Credit: Reuters
The Lakers came back to win after a 15-point deficit.
Timberwolves star forward Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 points in the first half but scored just seven points for the rest of the game.
Minnesota was without star Rudy Gobert, who was suspended for Tuesday’s game by the team for throwing a punch at Kyle Anderson in a Sunday game, and Jaden McDaniels, who fractured his hand while punching a wall in an arena tunnel on that same day.
The Timberwolves were held to seven points in the final 11 minutes from midway through the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles began their comeback when Towns had to sit with his fifth foul.
And LeBron led the way, scoring 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds and six assists.
Yet, NBA fans were claiming the Tuesday game was “rigged.”
Fans pointed to the suspension of Gobert, Los Angeles shooting 17 free throws in the second half and overtime compared to Minnesota’s three, and Towns receiving a fifth foul in the fourth quarter as reasons why the game was “rigged.”
One fan wrote: “This Lakers game is so rigged bro it’s not even funny.”
Another said: “This nba rigged stuff is getting too obvious man… #Lakers.”
And a third tweeted: “The NBA is so rigged the refs always bring the lakers back into the game. Deleting all betting apps from my phone.”
However, other NBA fans were quick to point out that the Timberwolves only attempted two shots in the paint during the fourth quarter.
Minnesota also missed eight consecutive shots, all with Towns being on the floor.
One fan tweeted: “Wolves straight up gave the game away, nothing to do with refs or rigging.”
And a second wrote: “Wolves missed 25 3s, wolves also missed 47 FGs in totality, KAT didn’t want to post smaller guys, watch the tape Anthony Edwards was terrible.”
Los Angeles nearly won it in regulation after Dennis Schroder made a three-pointer with 1.4 seconds remaining to give the Lakers a 98-95 lead.
But Mike Conley hit three free throws to tie it after Davis failed him on a three-point attempt.
The Lakers would win in overtime and will face the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in a first-round playoff matchup.
Minnesota will play the winner of the Pelicans-Thunder Wednesday play-in matchup on Friday.
