LOS ANGELES — In the worst of worlds, the Lakers’ season was in serious trouble.

Anthony Davis twisted his ankle and stayed down on the court seemingly forever while the Lakers trailed the Minnesota Timberwolves by eight midway through the third quarter Friday.

Uh-oh.

Then came the latest unexpected twist in a season full of so many that didn’t go the Lakers’ way. But this one did.

Davis headed to the sideline during a timeout but went right back into the game and was part of a dramatic Lakers’ comeback that made them a 123-111 winner over the Timberwolves.

Davis was absolutely dominant in the fourth quarter and scored 17 of his 38 points as the Lakers took over seventh place in the Western Conference by vaulting Minnesota in the standings.

The Lakers (39-38) won for the fifth time in the last six games and moved a game above .500 for the first time since Jan. 9 of last year, a span of 446 days.

Perhaps LeBron James said it best.

“We jumped on AD’s back and he took us home,” he said.

It didn’t look great in the first half as the Lakers trailed by 10. It didn’t matter.

The Lakers cranked up their defense and went on a ridiculous 24-2 run in the third quarter to help create a 90-83 lead going into the fourth.

From there, it was all Davis. He made seven of 10 shots in the final eight minutes and helped sink Minnesota (39-39).

“He kicked our ass in every way possible,” Minnesota Coach Chris Finch said with little argument from anybody.

Davis was plenty effective down the stretch. He scored off an offensive rebound. Then on a short hook shot. Then he beat Karl-Anthony Towns on an up-and-under move. And converted a lay-up off a pass from D’Angelo Russell. And added a baseline fadeaway.

“I knew I was going to play regardless,” Davis said of his injury, which happened after he landed on teammate Wenyen Gabriel’s foot while pursuing a defensive rebound. “Tied the shoes up tighter and just kind of played off adrenaline until the end of the game.

”Would he be ready for the Lakers’ next game Sunday in Houston?

“Oh hell yeah,” he said.

The Lakers lost by four in Houston two weeks ago without Davis and James. Yes, the same Houston team that’s been at or near the bottom of the West all season.

“They beat us last time we played them. So now our focus shifts to them right away,” James said after scoring 18 points against Minnesota.

The Lakers were 11th place in the West on the morning of March 22. They’ve rapidly moved up the standings since then.

Poor third quarters have plagued the Lakers all season. Not Friday.

They outscored Minnesota by a 35-18 margin in the third quarter, including 14-0 in fastbreak points.

All five Lakers starters finished in double-digit scoring and D’Angelo Russell tacked on 10 assists to his 12 points.