'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The LA Lakers versus Minnesota Timberwolves showdown at Target Center on Friday comes with enough rumors and questions surrounding the Purple and Gold. Will LeBron James be traded? Will Bronny James Jr. go with him? Can GM Rob Pelinka go shrewd operator to bolster his side with some league-wide landscape-altering trades that make LA a contender again?
And then there's that whole matter of facing the Timberwolves, a team that blitzed the Lakers 109-80 the last time they met. The 29-point defeat was one of the many woeful losses LA endured this season, before losing by a mammoth 41 points to the Miami Heat.
To add to the heartbreak, Trae Young iced them in the final seconds of the fourth quarter with a clutch 3 and handed them a 134-132 loss. Parity was restored albeit briefly as LA pulled off a 107-98 win against the paltry Portland Trail Blazers.
Trending
The Lakers head into the contest with James ruled out for the marquee matchup. The 39-year-old's absence which was confirmed by team reporter Mike Trudell further fueled speculations about his future with the franchise.
Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.
On paper, the four-time NBA champion is dealing with left foot soreness that sees him miss only his second game of the season. The buzz outside though is the possibility of James exiting the side even as reports of the Golden State Warriors revisiting the possibility of uniting him with Steph Curry do the rounds.
Much of this, at this moment at least is hearsay. Factor in the money matters and the aprons, there's always a good possibility that the veteran forward is possibly getting deserved downtime. There's enough work to be one for the players and the personnel as the focus for the players will be to scrape wins for the rest of the month, while the front office will need to put the right pieces alongside their stars to put them back in the hunt.
As for Minnesota, they looked to be turning a corner with a four-game winning streak before the Warriors snapped it with a 114-106 win. The T-Wolves overcame a rough start to sit ninth in the West — a rung below LA with a 12-11 record.
That's not to say the side is coasting. There's been turmoil in the Timberwolves camp as well that spilled over. Whether it was Anthony Edwards calling out his team for lack of effort or the tiff between Rudy Gobert and offseason acquisition Julius Randle, there's enough to show that the outfit is far from the clinical side it was last edition.
But the Timberwolves are still favorites to walk away with a win when they host the Lakers on Friday. They have been improving and the team appears to rediscover their fledgling mojo. This will be the third meeting between the two after splitting the regular season series so far.
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Preview, predicted starting lineups, betting tips, odds, and prediction
The LA Lakers versus Minnesota Timberwolves matchup tips off at 8:00 p.m. ET. Local coverage will be on FDSN and SportsNet LA. The game can also be streamed live on Fubo TV (regional restrictions may apply) and on the NBA app with a subscription to the NBA League Pass.
Here are the odds as listed at the time of writing:
Note: Odds are subject to change closer to tip-off.
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Preview
It's not been the greatest of road trips for the LA Lakers this season. Inconsistency, injuries, and lack of execution have cost the side and now they find themselves in a steep climb up the standings. The remainder of their December schedule does not look easy by any means. However, they still have a chance to exploit the work-in-progress, and erratic T-Wolves frontcourt when they take the floor on Friday.
Much depends on how MVP and DPOY candidate Anthony Davis fares against Rudy Gobert. The Frenchman won the 'Battle of the Bigs' last time around and with no reserve centers to back AD, there will be a lot expected of him on both ends of the floor.
The Timberwolves have been offense-heavy, but it was their defense that saw them go 18-5 last season. Replacing Karl-Anthony Towns has not been easy, but they have trended in the right direction in their last few games. Chris Finch's side is 20th in the NBA in scoring offense averaging 110.5 ppg and propping up 109.6 points per 100 possessions.
They are 12th in FG% with 46.5 and shoot the trey-ball well enough with their 37.5% shooting keeping them in the top 10 teams. Their recent string of wins, all built on improving scoring defense sees them fourth, as they allow 106 points per every 100 possessions.
LA is still miles behind in being a better defensive side. They are 21st on scoring defense allowing their opponents 114.4 points per 100 possessions. Offensively, they are 18th in the league as they average 112.1 points per contest. The LA Lakers are 10th in FG% (47.4) and 18th in 3-point offense (35.2).
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Predicted Starting Lineup
The LA Lakers have listed Davis (left plantar fasciitis) as probable to play and Austin Reaves is questionable (left pelvic contusion). James (left foot soreness), Jaxson Hayes (right ankle sprain/contusion), Jarred Vanderbilt (foot surgery recovery), and Wood (knee surgery recovery) are sidelined.
The Timberwolves are healthy with just Joe Inglis (calf) ruled out of the matchup.
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Tips
Rudy Gobert is one of the players to watch out for with an o/u of -115/-102 on points. Julius Randle is -111/-110 on points. Anthony Edwards is -120/-120 on points. For the Lakers, Anthony Davis is -115/-125 on points + rebounds. D'Angelo Russell is -115/-111 on points + assists.
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction
The LA Lakers will need to play stellar defense and hope that their bench comes alive on offense if they intend to stop the Timberwolves. The latter has played better ball on both ends of the floor and will know that containing Davis is key to winning the contest.
Take the Timberwolves to win the Friday showdown.
Los Angeles Lakers Fan? Check out the latest Lakers depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.
