Luka, LeBron deliver; Lakers level series

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Luka Doncic scored 31 points and LeBron James added 21 as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 94-85 to level their National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece on Tuesday.

Slovenian star Doncic, acquired in a blockbuster February trade, also had 12 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, who led by as many as 22 and held on late in a bruising clash at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers bounced back from a blowout loss on their home floor, while elsewhere the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder seized 2-0 leads in their best-of-seven first-round series.

The Pacers withstood another big performance from Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the return of Damian Lillard, beating the Bucks, 123-115, in the East.

The Thunder followed up their crushing 51-point game-one victory over Memphis with another dominant win, beating the Grizzlies, 118-99, in their Western Conference clash.

After a disjointed effort in their game-one loss, the Lakers rocketed out of the gate, taking a 10-point lead with 5:07 left in the first quarter and maintaining a double-digit advantage until midway through the fourth quarter.

James, chasing a fifth NBA title in his 22nd season, added 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, who persevered in a physical game that saw the teams combined for 46 personal fouls.

Caught out early by the Lakers’ increased defensive intensity, the Timberwolves managed to apply some pressure in the final period, when the Lakers suddenly couldn’t get a basket to fall.

The Lakers scored just 13 points in the final period, but Minnesota — led by 27 points from Julius Randle and 25 from Anthony Edwards — couldn’t muster enough offense to capitalize.

“We played hard for 48 minutes,” Doncic said.

“We played physical, that’s how we’ve got to play over the whole 48 minutes.”

In Indianapolis, Pascal Siakam scored 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points and 12 assists for the Pacers, who saw a 15-point fourth-quarter lead slashed to two thanks to a 13-0 scoring run from the Bucks.