The Timberwolves can’t say this about too many teams, but they own the Lakers this season. In fact, everybody has owned the Lakers this season. Minnesota goes for the season sweep after winning each of the first two games by one point, and will try to end an 11-game road losing streak.
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LETDOWN
The Timberwolves have won just six games since beginning the season with a somewhat surprising 8-8 record. They have lost an eye-popping 19 of their last 22 and tension is starting to build. According to a report, nearly half of the players on the roster have expressed concern with coach Sam Mitchell, including his platoon-style offensive system and his refusal to take accountability for the team’s poor record. T-Wolves guard Zach LaVine told reporters he’s not exactly a fan of Mitchell’s development tactics in trying to mold him into a point guard. Mitchell says he’s trying to develop the dynamic young guard the way others have been in the past. If he has to bench him, or yell at him, it’s for good reason.
While Lakers coach Byron Scott’s rigid relationship with his young team has been under a microscope, the Timberwolves’ issues haven’t garnered the same coverage. But the similarities are there. Both Scott and Mitchell are old-school NBA players, coaching players who were born at the tail end of their careers. They are also at the bottom of the Western Conference. Their tactics may make D’Angelo Russell and LaVine better. But if they don’t get better results, they won’t be around to enjoy the benefits.
INJURIES
Kevin Garnett has missed the last four games with soreness in his knee and is questionable to return against the Lakers. Also, guard Kevin Martin didn’t play Sunday due to a sore wrist and is questionable to play on Tuesday. Zach LaVine figures to see extra minutes once again if Martin doesn’t dress.
The Lakers are considering shutting down forward Larry Nance Jr. until after the All-Star break due to a lingering knee issue. It’s the same knee in which the rookie tore his ACL in 2014.
KEY MATCHUP
The Lakers haven’t done a very good job guarding the paint this season. Roy Hibbert was brought over to be the rim protector and inside presence, a job he did so well with the Pacers for years. But like many who have donned LA’s purple and gold the past few years, his skills have just evaporated and all he does now is take up space. The Lakers will also be without Larry Nance Jr., who has been the team’s best defender and hustle player, and that opens up the middle for Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns. A strong contender for Rookie of the Year, Towns finished Sunday’s game with 21 points and 13 rebounds for his 25th double-double, the most of any rookie this season. That came on the heels of a career-best 32 points and 12 rebounds Friday night in Utah. KAT dominated the Lakers in the last meeting, going for 26 points on 11 of 19 shooting along with 14 boards. His first NBA game was against the Lakers at Staples Center on Oct. 28 and his career started with a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, and a victory.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
They may be the two worst teams in the Western conference, but at least the games between the T-Wolves and Lakers this season have been entertaining. Minnesota won in LA 112-111 on opening night and defeated the Lakers at home 123-122 in overtime on Dec. 9. The battle for last place in the West has been just that. The T-Wolves have been close to breaking through, though, falling by three points Sunday in Portland and losing by a field goal to OKC last week. They also had a 7-point loss in Cleveland, lost by five to Memphis and dropped an overtime heartbreaker in Dallas. A few plays along the way and, who knows, the Wolves might be riding a winning streak. The Lakers haven’t been close and were blown out Sunday 101-82 by the Hornets, who finished up a four-game road trip. The Lakers are bad, there really is no other way to put it, and Minnesota’s youngsters will once again get the better of them.
Minnesota 97, Los Angeles 94
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