The Lakers are back on the road, where they will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second time this week. This is the first of two road games for Los Angeles.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota
Timberwolves
When: 6:30 p.m. PT, Oct 29
Where: Target Center
Watch: ESPN, Spectrum Sportsnet
Just when we thought the Lakers were building on two straight wins to begin the week, the injury bug keeps playing the Grinch and making its presence felt on the team. Los Angeles’ health issues have now become their biggest challenge to start the young season.
With seven key players currently listed on the injury report, the purple and gold are left with having to figure out how to survive the last two games with a thin rotation. While there’s a possibility that Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart make their return back on the court on Wednesday, the Lakers will still be shorthanded against the Timberwolves.
In what was supposed to be a rematch between two teams who just went at it at Crypto.com Arena last Friday, the game has turned into a battle between role players with no Anthony Edwards, Luka Dončić and LeBron James in this one. Instead, it’s a match that will test both teams’ depth, game plan and mental fortitude.
The Wolves know that the Lakers’ offense will run through Austin Reaves. As our good friends over at Canis Hoopus pointed out, they’re going to want to treat Reaves like he’s 2011 Dwyane Wade and rightfully so because the undrafted guard has been carrying the team with Dončić and James out. After all, the Lakers’ chances this one starts and ends with how good Austin.
That’s not to say that the team should entirely depend on their shooting guard. It’ll be nice to see Rui Hachimura have his best game of the season on Wednesday since the Lakers could really use it. The best way they can win this one is if multiple players contribute like they did against the Sacramento Kings. I’ve been clamoring for Hachimura in particular to step up since last week because he’s the most capable of playing like a superstar. It’ll be nice to see him outduel Julius Randle again.
The Wolves’ biggest strength in this one will be their frontcourt with Rudy Gobert, Randle and Naz Reid healthy, so it’ll be interesting to see how Redick counters with the limited options he has. Will the sophomore coach go with a small lineup again? Or will he match the opponent’s size and length? Based on who’s available, it seems the former is the likeliest option.
Despite the loss to the Blazers on Monday, we saw the team play hard and trust their system. That was an encouraging sign and one that the Lakers should continue doing as they attempt to overcome the injury bug. Let’s see if that will be the case against the Wolves on Wednesday.
Notes and Updates
- After scoring 41 points against the Blazers, Reaves now has 143 points across four games, which ties him for the third most in franchise history.
- Now for the most dreadful part of this preview, the Lakers’ injury report has Luka Dončić (left finger sprain, lower left leg contusion), LeBron James (right sciatica), Maxi Kleber (abdominal muscle strain), Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery) and Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain) as out.
- Jaxson Hayes (left patellar tendinopathy) and Marcus Smart (right quad contusion) are questionable.
- For the Wolves, Jaylen Clark (left calf strain) is questionable while Anthony Edwards (right hamstring strain) is out.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.
