Kareem Abdul-Jabar. Kobe Bryant. Magic Johnson. Jerry West.
Austin Reaves?
Luka Doncic (finger/leg) and LeBron James (sciatica) are both sidelined for the Lakers. That hasn’t stopped Los Angeles’ ‘other’ star from emerging as a force. Over his last two games, Reaves has dropped a combined total of 92 points. The Purple and Gold will need another terrific performance from the guard to earn a road win tonight.
LA isn’t the only team missing a superstar. The Timberwolves will be without Anthony Edwards (hamstring) in this one. Still, Minnesota employs two former All-Stars in Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. Can the front court duo power their squad to a win in this clash of contenders? Here’s my preview, prediction, and pick for Wednesday’s Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves matchup.
The Timberwolves are 7.5-point favorites (-108) over the Lakers on DraftKings Sportsbook. Minnesota is favored at -290 on the moneyline. The total for this matchup is set at 225.5 points.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves prediction, preview
Reaves has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. The former undrafted free agent is trending towards his first career All-Star selection. Through four appearances, he’s averaging 35.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists. In addition, the 27-year-old has posted stellar 57/43/88 shooting splits. Reaves’s ability to get to the line has been a major factor in his early success. He currently leads the NBA with 11.3 free throws made and 12.8 free throws attempted per game.
Still, Reaves alone isn’t enough to win games. That was the case on Monday; Los Angeles lost by 14 against the Trail Blazers. Finding another 20-point scorer on this current roster could prove difficult. Offseason acquisition Deandre Ayton has taken time adjusting to life in Hollywood. Matching up against Gobert, an elite defender, will be difficult.
Rui Hachimura and Jake LaRavia are solid role players, but they’re miscast as Reaves’ number two. Even bench pieces such as Marcus Smart (quad), Jaxson Hayes (knee) and Gabe Vincent (ankle) are dealing with injuries. Could that mean more minutes for Dalton Knecht, and perhaps Bronny James? It’s more than likely.
In all fairness, the Wolves have offensive issues of their own with Edwards out. During their last game, a loss vs. Denver, only Randle and Jaden McDaniels scored more than 12 points. However, Minnesota has far more depth at its disposal compared to Los Angeles. Former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid is a terror off the bench. The guard duo of Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo brings experience and playmaking. McDaniels-Randle-Gobert remains one of the NBA’s top front courts.
Part of what makes the Timberwolves a difficult matchup for the Lakers is their size. Controlling the boards will be vital for Los Angeles’ chances of keeping things close. However, with Hayes potentially out, this group is lacking centers. It’ll be up to Ayton, never really known as a grinder, to keep Minnesota off the glass.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves pick, best bet
As of Wednesday afternoon, there’s uncertainty over who will play for Los Angeles. That means names such as Hayes and Smart could take the court. If that occurs, the Lakers will be able to counter some of Minnesota’s depth. With respect to Randle, Reaves is the best player on the floor tonight. That makes it difficult to envision the short-handed Wolves turning this into a blowout. Take the points with Los Angeles and their budding superstar.
