SUMMARY
- The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, boast an impressive 20-6 record and hold the top position in the Western Conference.
- The Los Angeles Lakers are going through a challenging phase, currently sitting at the eighth spot in the Western Conference with a 15-13 record.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Target Center on Thursday with tip-off at 8 p.m. ET. The game will air on BSN, SportsNet LA, and NBA TV. The Timberwolves will aim to maintain their dominant form in the Western Conference, while the Lakers look to break their losing streak.
Led by Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves are at the top of the Western Conference with an impressive 20-6 record. Their performance at home has been particularly noteworthy, with a record 11 wins in 12 games. Despite a recent setback against the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota’s form has been outstanding this season.
The Lakers, on the other hand, are dealing with a challenging phase, currently sitting at the eighth spot with a 15-13 record. Their road performance this season has not been very good, with only five wins in 15 games. LeBron James and his team are under pressure to bounce back from their three-game losing streak and prove their competitiveness in the conference.
Their head-to-head record adds an interesting layer to this match. Last season, the Timberwolves dominated the Lakers in their regular-season games, securing two wins in three games. Their last 10 head-to-head matches have been evenly matched, with each team sharing five wins.
LeBron James is available for the Timberwolves vs Lakers game tonight
LeBron James is available for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves. At 38, James continues to be a key player for the Lakers.
James is averaging 25.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 27 games this season. His 679 points so far this season show his scoring ability and leadership, which will be crucial for the Lakers as they look to end their losing streak.
Minnesota Timberwolves injury report
- SG Jaylen Clark (Out – Achilles)
Minnesota Timberwolves expected starting lineup
- PG MIke Conley
- SG Anthony Edwards
- SF Jaden McDaniels
- PF Karl-Anthony Towns
- C Rudy Gobert
Los Angeles Lakers injury report
- SG Jalen Hood-Schifino (Out – back)
Los Angeles Lakers expected starting lineup
- PG D’Angelo Russell
- SG Cam Reddish
- SF Taurean Prince
- PF LeBron James
- C Anthony Davis
The Timberwolves are slightly favored over the Lakers tonight
Going into tonight’s game, the Timberwolves hold a slight advantage over the Lakers. This is because of their impressive home-court performance and their overall record in the current season, losing only one of their 12 home games. Whereas, the Lakers’ recent performance has been inconsistent, with equal number of wins and losses in their last 10 games.
Highest win percentage in clutch games this season:
.875 — Timberwolves
.800 — Mavericks
.727 — Lakers
.714 — Bucks pic.twitter.com/EKtcn3JojJ— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 12, 2023
While the Timberwolves have shown superior consistency and defensive capabilities, the presence of LeBron James on the court for the Lakers could change the game’s outcome. His experience and skill could potentially shift the momentum in favor of the Lakers, making it an unpredictable game.