Game 65: Wolves @ Lakers 8:30 CST
Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:12 pm
The Lakers are coming off a big win where LeBron James did not play and they host a Timberwolves team that is coming off a loss.
The Timberwolves had won two in a row before a loss in their last game. The team is in second place in the Western Conference only a half-game out of first place. However, they recently lost star center Karl-Anthony Towns and Minnesota hopes he will be back for the playoffs. The T-Wolves are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have won both matchups with the Lakers this season with both games in Minnesota.
The Lakers are coming off a big home win over the Milwaukee Bucks without King James in the lineup. He is listed as questionable to face the T-Wolves. L.A. is also 6-4 in their last 10 games and they are in the ninth spot in the Western Conference and have to have a great end of the season to avoid the play-in tournament. L.A. is a slight 1-point favorite in this game with a total of 222.5.
Not Good in Extra Time
In their last game, the Timberwolves were on the road in a 113-104 OT loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers where they were outscored 16-7 in overtime. For the game, they did not have the best shooting night with a FG% of 41.5% and 26.7% from deep but they played pretty good defense holding the Cavs to 43.2% shooting and 32.4% shooting from deep. Naz Reid had a big game in the loss going for a season-high 34 points off the bench on 10-18 shooting and Anthony Edwards had 19 points but was only 7-27 from the floor and missed all seven of his 3-pointers. Minnesota failed to cover as a 1-point underdog and they have not covered the spread in six of their last seven games.
On the season the T-Wolves only rank 19th in the NBA in points per game but rank first in opponents’ points per game. Edwards (26.3 ppg) is in the MVP debate but is questionable for this game with ankle soreness. Rudy Gobert (13.8 ppg 12.9 rpg) ranks second in the league in rebounding and while he had 17 boards in the last game tied a season-low with seven points. Reid (12.6 ppg) had totaled 25 points in two games before going for 34 points in the last one. On the season Minnesota is 21-12 on the road.
Timberwolves at Lakers key injuries
Timberwolves
G Anthony Edwards (ankle) questionable
G Monte Morris (hamstring) out
C Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) out
Lakers
C Anthony Davis (shoulder) questionable
F LeBron James (ankle) questionable
F Christian Wood (knee) out
No word yet on Anthony Edwards availability. Thinking we may see some added motivation from Rudy tonight.
The Timberwolves had won two in a row before a loss in their last game. The team is in second place in the Western Conference only a half-game out of first place. However, they recently lost star center Karl-Anthony Towns and Minnesota hopes he will be back for the playoffs. The T-Wolves are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have won both matchups with the Lakers this season with both games in Minnesota.
The Lakers are coming off a big home win over the Milwaukee Bucks without King James in the lineup. He is listed as questionable to face the T-Wolves. L.A. is also 6-4 in their last 10 games and they are in the ninth spot in the Western Conference and have to have a great end of the season to avoid the play-in tournament. L.A. is a slight 1-point favorite in this game with a total of 222.5.
Not Good in Extra Time
In their last game, the Timberwolves were on the road in a 113-104 OT loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers where they were outscored 16-7 in overtime. For the game, they did not have the best shooting night with a FG% of 41.5% and 26.7% from deep but they played pretty good defense holding the Cavs to 43.2% shooting and 32.4% shooting from deep. Naz Reid had a big game in the loss going for a season-high 34 points off the bench on 10-18 shooting and Anthony Edwards had 19 points but was only 7-27 from the floor and missed all seven of his 3-pointers. Minnesota failed to cover as a 1-point underdog and they have not covered the spread in six of their last seven games.
On the season the T-Wolves only rank 19th in the NBA in points per game but rank first in opponents’ points per game. Edwards (26.3 ppg) is in the MVP debate but is questionable for this game with ankle soreness. Rudy Gobert (13.8 ppg 12.9 rpg) ranks second in the league in rebounding and while he had 17 boards in the last game tied a season-low with seven points. Reid (12.6 ppg) had totaled 25 points in two games before going for 34 points in the last one. On the season Minnesota is 21-12 on the road.
Timberwolves at Lakers key injuries
Timberwolves
G Anthony Edwards (ankle) questionable
G Monte Morris (hamstring) out
C Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) out
Lakers
C Anthony Davis (shoulder) questionable
F LeBron James (ankle) questionable
F Christian Wood (knee) out
No word yet on Anthony Edwards availability. Thinking we may see some added motivation from Rudy tonight.
. I suppose that also means I agree with your initial bold prediction.