Anthony Davis' return to form and Will Hardy's brain fade saw the LA Lakers snag a lucky 105-104 win against the Utah Jazz on Sunday. As scrappy as it was, the win ensured that the Purple and Gold began their four-game road trip with a victory. Come Monday, they will need just as much luck if they play another game with a depleted squad against a smarting Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.
The Lakers will hope that their starters Austin Reaves and Cam Reddish return, while D'Angelo Russell will bolster their bench which otherwise is heavily reliant on young guns Max Christie and Dalton Knecht. LA head coach JJ Redick had a cryptic response when asked about the player availability after the Jazz win saying, "I'll know when you know."
Per a RealGM update, Reaves and Russell are set to miss the second straight game on the bounce, although there is nothing official listed on the NBA injury update report at the time of writing. Unless there are upgrades on that front, there's a possibility that the Lakers will field their same starting five with the onus once again on Davis and LeBron James.
The Timberwolves have faced their issues. They have been average at best on both ends of the floor paling all the flamboyance and energy they brought to the table last year. Such has been their misery that Anthony Edwards criticized the side for "not playing hard". Minnesota is placed tenth this season, but in a silver lining came off a close 93-92 win over the LA Clippers.
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LA stunned the T-Wolves when both teams met to start their NBA 2024-25 campaign. The JJ Redick era began on a high note as they notched up a 110-103 win at the Crypto.com Arena. It's been a contrasting run since then as the Lakers' sinewave run sees them sixth seed at 12-8 while the Timberwolves are 9-10 and struggling to get past the .500 mark.
Round two of this matchup promises to be a humdinger, especially with Edwards and Co. looking to right their ship, the question is whether the short-handed Lakers can make use of their momentum to make it 2-0.
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Preview, predicted starting lineups, betting tips, odds, and prediction
The LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves skirmish tips off at 8 pm ET. Local coverage will be on NBA TV, SportsNet LA, and FDSN. The game can 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
Minnesota has issues. They are erratic on defense, and lazy at times on the court, and lack of attention to turnovers has seen teams trounce them. Their defensive lapses have been their biggest bane this season. Between that and Edwards' fluctuating form, the Timberwolves have suffered. Minnesota allows 110.3 points on average and concedes 109 points for every 100 possessions.
They allow 47% from the field and are 21st in opponent field goal percentage. They are 11th in opponents three-point shooting, allowing 35.1%. Their offense ratings have sputtered as well, as they average 111.2 (19th in the league) and 110 points per every 100 possessions.
The Lakers' defensive woes are just as bad. They are 22nd in this season's defensive ratings, allowing 113.9 points per 100 possessions. They are 24th in opponent field goal defense with 48.1% of points conceded. Their offense is still their best weapon, averaging 113.0 points per game, and propping up 113.4 points per every 100 possessions.
LeBron James' three-point shooting woes need some sorting. The 4x NBA champion has now gone in to miss all his 3s after the loss to the Phoenix Suns last week. Can the Lakers' superstar regain his mojo from beyond the arc?
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Predicted Starting Lineups
The LA Lakers have familiar names listed on their IR with Reaves and Russell sidelined for another contest, Jarred Vanderbilt (foot), Christian Wood (knee), and Bronny James (heel) are ruled out as well. They are most likely to start the same five that took the floor against the Jazz.
The Timberwolves will be without Joe Ingles (calf). Chris Finch is expected to field the same lineup from their last game against the Clippers.
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Tips
LeBron James comes into the contest with an o/u of -115/120 on points. Anthony Davis is -105/-106 on points + rebounds. Julius Randle is -105/-110 on points for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is -118/-115 on points, while Rudy Gobert is -118/-111 on points and rebounds.
LA Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction
The LA Lakers take on a stern Timberwolves unit who despite their inconsistencies are favorites to take the contest. LA will need more firepower on both ends of the floor to fend off Edwards's relentless offense, and also pierce their defense that has reigning DPOY Gobert in the mix to take the hardwood. Take Minnesota for the win as they get past a tired LA outfit.
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