Dennis Schröder lifts Lakers with his energy and efficiency
'It’s Dennis, it’s classic Dennis,' Lakers coach Darvin Ham says of the guard's 21-point performance during their play-in tournament win over the Timberwolves
LeBron James had the basketball and the Lakers’ play-in game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in his capable hands as the final seconds of the fourth quarter ticked down Tuesday. Everyone watching inside Crypto.com Arena and on TNT knew what would happen next.
James would drive and score the tie-breaking basket and the Lakers would complete their comeback from a 15-point third-quarter deficit, defeating the Timberwolves in the closing seconds and advancing to claim the seventh-seeded spot and a first-round date with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Well, James did drive to his right, drawing the Timberwolves’ defenders to him.
But then something unexpected happened.
James passed the ball to teammate Dennis Schröder, who was stationed in the opposite corner, with both feet planted behind the 3-point arc. Schröder accepted the pass and swished a 3-pointer that gave the Lakers a 98-95 lead with 1.4 seconds remaining. The sellout crowd roared.
“It’s Dennis, it’s classic Dennis,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham would later say.
The story didn’t end there, through no fault of Schröder’s. But, after Minnesota’s Mike Conley hit three free throws with 0.1 remaining to send the game to overtime, the Lakers seized control and subdued the Timberwolves for a 108-102 victory. Schröder had 21 points in a reserve role, including his clutch 3-pointer.
In many ways, the game and the ending were a microcosm of the season. There was a little good, a little bad and, ultimately, a pleasing result for the Lakers in the end.
“I told LeBron to get a great shot and attack the rim and just lay it up and get it over with,” Schröder said late Tuesday night. “But he always makes the right reads. He’s been doing this for 20 years. Middle of the season, I missed one of those to win the game, and (Tuesday) I was ready.”
Pressed for details, Schröder said he couldn’t remember his missed shot.
“It was one game,” he said. “I had a wide open shot in the corner.”
The past was in the past.
What mattered for the Lakers was that Schröder picked them up in ways great and small on a night when their supporting cast didn’t do enough supporting of James, who had 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and Anthony Davis, who had 24 points, 15 rebounds and four assists.
Schröder made 5 of 12 shots, including 3 of 4 from beyond the 3-point arc, and had four rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes. He played all but one second of the pivotal fourth quarter, when the Lakers held the Timberwolves to 12 points on 3-for-15 shooting, and all five minutes in overtime.
D’Angelo Russell sat out all but a few seconds in the fourth quarter and OT, scoring only two points on 1-for-9 shooting in 24 minutes by game’s end. Malik Beasley scored five points on 2-for-3 shooting in 14 minutes, and Troy Brown Jr. had two points on 1-for-5 shooting in 17 minutes.
“Whatever the team needs right now, I just try to get it done,” Schröder said when asked about shifting from a starter to a bench player. “I didn’t even know before I got here. I see my name, that I’m not starting. End of the day, to play with those guys is easy, whether I’m coming off the bench or I’m starting. So, we are just competing on the highest level. We showed it again, and I’m glad we got the win.”
Ham said Schröder “lives for those types of moments,” reiterating his fondness for the 6-foot-3 guard from Germany who is in his second stint with the Lakers. Schröder’s standout play Tuesday was much-needed and much-appreciated, as Ham pointed out at game’s end.
“Yeah, man, the kid is just – his heart, his competitive spirit, just his ability to make big plays and take tough matchups in the biggest of moments, his attitude, his confidence,” Ham said of the 29-year-old playing his 10th season in the NBA. “He’s unbelievable, extraordinary.
“Guys are going to have tough nights and other guys have to be ready to step up. It’s not about trying to just – I don’t know, I don’t know what the word is – but everybody is all-hands-on-deck. It’s about getting the win. It’s not about your way, my way, his way, but the best way to go about getting the win.
“He put us in position to come out on top.”