The Los Angeles Lakers, all series long, had been waiting for vintage LeBron James to show up.
He arrived Friday night, but it didn’t matter. Los Angeles wasted another playoff classic from the King.
On a night when Luka Doncu030cicu0301 struggled through a stomach bug, James set the record for most points by a 40-year-old player in a single playoff game with a 38-point masterclass of efficiency. Yet, L.A.’s 116-104 loss against the Timberwolves that set the Lakers down 2-1 in the series showed individual greatness will not be enough to carry Los Angeles through to the second round — at least if the Lakers continue to self-destruct.