Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
Last night’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (93:92) saw the Timberwolves snap a four-game losing streak. Now they face the Lakers, who are clearly lacking in consistency. Can the home side extend their winning run?
Minnesota Timberwolves
A quarter into the season, it is evident that the Timberwolves are facing a number of offensive issues, largely due to injuries to key players. The return of point guard Mike Conley has been beneficial in matchups against the Sacramento Kings and the Clippers, delivering a total of four steals and 29 points. On average, the Timberwolves score just over 111 points per game. However, they excel defensively, conceding only 110 points per game and ranking in the top 10 best defensive teams in the league.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers enter this encounter significantly depleted. Both Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell are expected to miss the match. As primary guards for the team, they collectively average 28 points and nearly 10 assists per game. The loss of such productive players is particularly problematic given the Lakers’ dreadful defensive record, conceding an average of 115.7 points.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction
We believe the Timberwolves should not face much difficulty in this matchup. In their last five games, the Lakers have only managed to defeat the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs, teams that are hardly considered formidable opponents. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have seen the return of playmaker Mike Conley, and their offence should find it easy to rack up points against the visitors' porous defence.
