The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers continue their three-game regular-season series, and the Timberwolves aim for their third straight victory over the Lakers.
Latest Updates Injury for Timberwolves vs. Lakers game
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham is making adjustments on the fly without star player LeBron James, who is out for at least two weeks with a right foot injury.
- Update injury status LeBron James
On Thursday, the Lakers’ medical staff diagnosed James with a right foot tendon injury; he will be re-evaluated in about three weeks, per Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet.
James will forego surgery in favor of rest and rehabilitation in the hopes of making a full recovery and returning by the end of March.
The Lakers are currently 11th in the Western Conference, so they will need James to come back soon if they want to make the Play-In Tournament.
Without James, the likes of Anthony Davis (foot) and D’Angelo Russell (ankle) will be asked to carry more of the offensive load, while role players like Troy Brown, Lonnie Walker, and Rui Hachimura will see increased playing time.
- Anthony Davis – Questionable
Fortunately for the Lakers, center Anthony Davis will be back in the lineup on Friday when the team begins a five-game homestand against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers, playing with a depleted roster, defeated the Thunder, 123-117, on Wednesday in Oklahoma City. This was the team’s fifth victory in their last seven outings.
As a preventative measure in the second game of a back-to-back, Davis did not play against the Thunder. Injuries to his right foot caused the eight-time All-Star to miss 20 games earlier this season. Davis has put up 23.3 points, 15.3 boards, and 3.3 blocks per game in the second half of the season.
The big man is expected to play this Friday, which could mean less playing time for Wenyen Gabriel and Mo Bamba.
- Will D’Angelo Russell return to lineup?
D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers’ point guard, has been out with a sprained right ankle and won’t play for a fourth straight game.
For the time being, the Lakers will rely on Dennis Schroder, Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker, and Troy Brown to fill in for LeBron James (foot). On Sunday, the Warriors will be in town, and Russell will get another shot to play.
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently 11th in the Western Conference and are chasing several teams, including No. 8 Minnesota, for a spot in the play-in tournament. To determine the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the playoffs, the seventh through tenth place teams from each conference compete in a tournament.
The three-game losing streak for the Wolves was broken on Tuesday with a 108-101 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Minnesota had six players score in double figures, and the Timberwolves outscored the Clippers 60-38 in the paint.
After missing only one game, Rudy Gobert is expected to return to the starting lineup, pushing Naz Reid back to the bench.
Anthony Edwards is averaging 24.6 points on 45.8-percent shooting for Minnesota, which has won its last two meetings against the Lakers, including a 111-102 victory on Oct. 28.
