Lakers vs Wolves Preview and Game Thread: Battle between two inconsistent teams

The Lakers look to reenact the same script that happened on opening night against the Wolves in Monday’s rematch.

The Lakers will continue their road trip on Monday when they will be on the second night of a back-to-back against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is the second match between the teams after facing each other on opening night.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

When: 5 p.m. PT, Dec 2

Where: Target Center

Watch: NBA TV, Spectrum SportsNet

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Since they last played on opening night, both the Lakers and Wolves have had inconsistent starts to the season. It’s actually been worse for Minnesota, the same team that made it as far as the Western Conference last season, who are currently 9-10 in the standings and are sitting in 11th. This Wolves team has actually lost seven out of their last 10 games, too.

Suffice it to say that, like the Lakers, the Wolves are eager to get back on track to avoid piling up losses. And safe to also say that they’re going to take advantage of the fact that they’re at home and that the Lakers are on the second night of a back-to-back on Monday.

The purple and gold should expect a Wolves team that takes a lot of threes (40.6 per game) and actually makes them (40.6%). While they’re still figuring out their identity in the wake of the Karl-Anthony Town trade, Minnesota runs through Anthony Edwards, who is averaging a career high 27.7 points on 45.3% shooting from the field and 42.8% 3-point shooting.

The Wolves are a horrible rebounding team, just like the Lakers, but are very good defensively, ranking in the top nine in the league. They’re still really pesky on the perimeter because of Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, so the Lakers guards have to be extra aggressive — whoever among them suits up. This matchup will also be about Anthony Davis against Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt.

Perhaps where Los Angeles can take advantage is in transition, which Minnesota doesn’t do too well. The best way for L.A. to win this game is to control the pace as they successfully did during opening night.

It’s going to take a lot for them to do that given that they’re on the backend of a back-to-back and their victory against the Jazz went down the wire. Hopefully, JJ Redick cooks up a good game plan again and the Lakers take advantage of the Wolves’ inconsistencies.

Let’s see if L.A. can continue to string wins in this road trip against the Timberwolves on Monday.

Notes and Updates

• One development worth pointing out is that the Lakers have been playing well on the road. After their first road trip where they went 1-4, they’re now 5-5 after beating the Jazz on Sunday night.
• There’s no update on the injury report yet since L.A. just finished playing the Jazz. But expect D’Angelo Russell (illness), Austin Reaves (left pelvic contusion) and Cam Reddish (illness) to be game-time decisions.
• To nobody’s surprise, Jaxson Hayes (right ankle sprain/contusion), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery recovery) and Christian Wood (left knee surgery recovery) are out.
• As for the Wolves, everyone but Joe Ingles (left soleus strain) is out.
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.