Game 65: Wolves @ Lakers 8:30 CST

[Loaf_of_bread]

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.

[cmoss84]

Bold prediction: if Lakers lose tonight...Houston overtakes them for final playoff spot.

[winforlose]

Bold prediction: if Lakers lose tonight...Houston overtakes them for final playoff spot.

Maybe I am missing something, but isn’t Houston pretty well tanking? They are 5 games back of 10th with a lot of tough games left. I assume you are making a joke, I just don’t get it.

[cmoss84]

Bold prediction: if Lakers lose tonight...Houston overtakes them for final playoff spot.

Maybe I am missing something, but isn’t Houston pretty well tanking? They are 5 games back of 10th with a lot of tough games left. I assume you are making a joke, I just don’t get it.

No joke! Haha
Just throwing something out there. Gonna be a crazy end to the season!

[TimberKat]

Bold prediction: if Lakers lose tonight...Houston overtakes them for final playoff spot.

Maybe I am missing something, but isn’t Houston pretty well tanking? They are 5 games back of 10th with a lot of tough games left. I assume you are making a joke, I just don’t get it.

No joke! Haha
Just throwing something out there. Gonna be a crazy end to the season!

That is bold but I think HOU has a better chance to catch GSW than LAL.

[cmoss84]

Maybe I am missing something, but isn’t Houston pretty well tanking? They are 5 games back of 10th with a lot of tough games left. I assume you are making a joke, I just don’t get it.

No joke! Haha
Just throwing something out there. Gonna be a crazy end to the season!

That is bold but I think HOU has a better chance to catch GSW than LAL.

I'll agree if Steph misses extended time

[Movics]

Rudy out, AD and Bron in… not looking forward to this game… need a 50 piece from Ant

No Kyle, no Monte. Need a 70 piece

[BlacJacMac]

SloMo out as well.

Just sit Ant and Conley. No point having them in there.

[Movics]

SloMo out as well.

Just sit Ant and Conley. No point having them in there.

Would there be even enough players to field if they sat out. Plus we would receive a huge fine after the Gobert fiasco for sitting Ant and Conley without a legitimate reason.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Looks like it’s gonna be a tough game. So many players out , let s see if we can compete first half. If
Not just sit ANT and Mike second half. Go wolves.

[TimberKat]

SloMo out as well.

Just sit Ant and Conley. No point having them in there.

Would there be even enough players to field if they sat out. Plus we would receive a huge fine after the Gobert fiasco for sitting Ant and Conley without a legitimate reason.

Time for Garza, Mnott, and WMJr to step up. Either Ant scores 70 pts or Ant plays 15 mins.

[winforlose]

SloMo out as well.

Just sit Ant and Conley. No point having them in there.

Would there be even enough players to field if they sat out. Plus we would receive a huge fine after the Gobert fiasco for sitting Ant and Conley without a legitimate reason.

Ant has been on the injury report for weeks. Mike is 36 and missed 5 games all year. Load management for Mike is legit at his age, and Ant turned his ankle 3 times in 9 games.

[TimberKat]

No joke! Haha
Just throwing something out there. Gonna be a crazy end to the season!

That is bold but I think HOU has a better chance to catch GSW than LAL.

I'll agree if Steph misses extended time

Looks like we won't have have to worry about HOU making the play-in more. LAL isn't going to lose tonight . I suppose that also means I agree with your initial bold prediction.

[Movics]

SloMo out as well.

Just sit Ant and Conley. No point having them in there.

Would there be even enough players to field if they sat out. Plus we would receive a huge fine after the Gobert fiasco for sitting Ant and Conley without a legitimate reason.

Time for Garza, Mnott, and WMJr to step up. Either Ant scores 70 pts or Ant plays 15 mins.

I like Garza… but those names bring back bad memories of the Rambis era… should’ve gone out for a steak instead.

[Movics]

SloMo out as well.

Just sit Ant and Conley. No point having them in there.

Would there be even enough players to field if they sat out. Plus we would receive a huge fine after the Gobert fiasco for sitting Ant and Conley without a legitimate reason.

Ant has been on the injury report for weeks. Mike is 36 and missed 5 games all year. Load management for Mike is legit at his age, and Ant turned his ankle 3 times in 9 games.

Makes sense. But didn’t we already have 4 players out including KAT, then another 5 if Ant and Conley sit out? There’s just not enough players on the roster

Whatever, I’ll enjoy Bron’s greatness while he’s around.

[TimberKat]

Good pass by Ant to NAW and see the double team coming.

[Calinks]

You kidding me? No Rudy or Anderson? Goodness.

[Calinks]

Ant is getting real close to a suspension he needs to chill with these techs.

[TimberKat]

How many T does Ant have now? He is going to break Draymond Green's record.

[m2002brian]

Ant is getting real close to a suspension he needs to chill with these techs.

If finch isn’t going to have his players backs and take the tech for them, this is what you get.
That was a straight up easy foul call, and they swallow their whistle.