Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) react after a play during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Lakers' Big 3 makes NBA history in win over Timberwolves

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Feb 28, 2025 12:32 PM ET

What the Lakers lack in size and athleticism, they make up in IQ.

It's hard to pinpoint a three-man band in the league more cerebral than LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The trio is averaging a combined 22.4 assists this season, with Reaves (6.1) averaging a career-high dimes and James his most assists (8.7) since 2019-20. Doncic's assists (7.6 overall, 6.7 as a Laker) are his fewest since his rookie year, but only because of the circumstances brought about by a midseason trade. Those numbers don't take away from the fact that he remains one of the best passers in the league.

In Thursday's 111-102 win over the Timberwolves, the Lakers' new Big 3 was clicking on all cylinders, combining for 77 points, 16 assists, 36 rebounds, 26 made free throws and seven threes. They entered the history books for their combined tally of numbers.

LeBron James, Luka Dončić & Austin Reaves of the @Lakers are the first teammate trio in NBA history to combine for:

75+ points
35+ rebounds
25+ free throws made
15+ assists
5+ threes made

...in a regulation game.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) February 28, 2025

Getting to the charity stripe

To further illustrate its "cerebral" billing, the trio identified that the Timberwolves went away from their drop-coverage defensive scheme (due to the absence of Rudy Gobert) and kept attacking the rim from the onset. They got to the free-throw line a whopping 15 times in the fourth quarter, allowing the Lakers to slow down proceedings and set their half-court defense.

Amazingly, the trio attempted 34 free throws, eight more than the entire Timberwolves roster. It was the sort of shrewd strategy veteran teams adopt in the playoffs and could be a harbinger of what's to come.

If the Lakers keep getting calls, they will be impossible to beat in the postseason. Teams who love to push the pace are likely fretting at the thought of playing this version of the Lakers.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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