Lakers player grades: L.A. lets Game 3 get away

The Los Angeles Lakers had a golden opportunity to take control of their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 on Friday after they tied it with a win in Game 2. While they played well enough to win on Friday, they ended up shooting themselves in the foot, especially when it mattered most.

They shot 47.4% from the field and 42.5% from 3-point range, but they were beaten in several other facets of the game. It wasn't quite the beatdown they suffered in Game 1, but it still hurt.

Los Angeles was outscored in the paint by an embarrassing 56-26 margin and on the fast break 21-11. However, its biggest deficiency came in the ball security department. It committed…