Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell hit a game-winning three on Sunday night at Staples Center against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers prevailed over the Timberwolves in a tight encounter 110-109 to earn their fourth win a row.

Russell's grandmother died on Sunday, but that didn't stop the 21-year-old from competing on Sunday night. Russell scored 16 points and had four assists and four assists along with three steals in 34 minutes spent on the floor.

The T'Wolves had a 109-107 lead with a couple of seconds to go when veteran Metta World Peace missed a three-pointer to give the Lakers the lead.

Luckily for Los Angeles, the ball was caught by Julius Randle off the World Peace miss — who made an assist to Russell — who then hit a game-winner. 2010 NBA champion with the Lakers, World Peace, 37, was given 11 minutes of action by Lakers coach Luke Walton against Minnesota.

''Honestly the crowd was going crazy every time Metta touch the ball,'' Russell said post-game. ''So, I just wanted to give him the ball. At the end I saw him in the corner -- and he missed the shot. Julius (Randle) came up with the rebound and found me...I made the shot.''

No pressure on the team

The Los Angeles Lakers have hit a good stretch recently, winning four games in a row for the first time this NBA season.

The Lakers are experiencing another inconsistent year (25 wins and 55 losses), a not so great one, which will see the team miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

However, the L.A. team has come along last week, winning four out of four of their games. The team is not pressured to win games and coach Walton is giving more space to young players.

''Honestly I have no idea,'' D'Angelo Russell said, when asked why did the team manage to win four games in a row. ''I felt we were coming out, we were playing freely, (we were) just competing and trying to play defense and not really worrying about the offense. Everybody has really taken advantage of the opportunity on the offensive end...at the end of the game it results with a win, you know.''

Russell's family was there to help

Second overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft, D'Angelo Russell, revealed that it was his family which convinced him to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After hitting the game-winner, Russell immediately turned to see where is his family in the stands, and ran towards them. The 21-year-old also revealed that his family is giving him ''pep talks and stuff before the game...motivation.''

''To play,'' Russell said, when asked was he given any of those by his family before the game on Sunday. ''You know, they talked me into it. Just talking me into playing tonight was the most they could do.''

Full interview:
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