The Timberwolves and Lakers tipoff in their regular season opener on Wednesday. Both are looking to improve as they finished in the bottom two spots in the Western Conference a season ago. There is hope for the future in Minnesota, but mourning in the present as their head coach, Flip Saunders passed away, losing his battle with cancer on Sunday.
LOOK AHEAD
The Lakers should get a boost for their season opener in the Staples Center, but the team still looks a long way removed from the powerhouse it has been for the majority of Kobe Bryant’s career.
The aging superstar is questionable for the game, but expected to play. The 37-year old, however, is a shell of his former self after dealing with numerous lower-body injuries that have cost him the better part of the last few years. The team does have youngsters D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle who figure to make big impacts, too.
On the other side, the Timberwolves will look to use this match up against another team that was abysmal a season ago to build with their young core.
Last year, amidst just 16-wins, Andrew Wiggins was named Rookie of the Year. This year, he’s got a partner in first-overall draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns out of Kentucky. Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica also joins the party, and his 11.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game should go a long ways.
The one key factor in all of this, however, is how the young team will adjust to the death of their head coach. Even though he was expected to miss the season, his death could provide extra motivation. Of course, it could also have an opposite impact with most mourning.
INJURIES
For Los Angeles, guards Jordan Clarkson and Kobe Bryant are both questionable. Bryant is dealing with a lower-leg contusion while Clarkson got knocked out of a preseason game with a right shoulder injury.
For the Timberwolves, center Nikola Pekovic isn’t expected to play due to an ankle injury and guard Ricky Rubio’s knee injury has him listed as questionable.
KEY MATCHUP
Towns should play a big role for the Timberwolves all season, but Wiggins is already proven himself in the NBA.
The last time Wiggins faced the Lakers, he scored 29-points with 10-rebounds and six assists. His prior outing against the Lakers, he put up 27-points.
Look for another strong performance from the second year star who’s got a bit more talent around him.
Los Angeles sent the youngster to the line 27 times in those two games and he knocked 25 of them down.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
Road teams have prevailed ATS in 20 of the last 28 meetings between these rivals, but the Timberwolves check in a lucrative 5-2 ATS in their last seven against the Lakers.
While those trends give us an idea of how these teams have fared against each other recently, the death of Coach Saunders flips this game on its head.
Look for Minnesota to play their hearts out for their late coach and, behind their talented young core, get their first win of the season on opening night.
Minnesota 106, Los Angeles 97
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