For all the scrutiny the Los Angeles Lakers have been under lately, they’ve found themselves on a hot streak as winners of five of their last six games, capped off by an impressive 110-97 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday without LeBron James, who missed his second consecutive game due to injury.
LA (39-25) continues its long homestand on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24), who the Lakers trail by one game for third place in the Western Conference.
The Timberwolves are coming off a blowout 119-92 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday in what was a bad all-around shooting performance, converting just 35.7% of their attempts for their second-fewest points scored in a game all season. They start off a four-game road trip in LA on Tuesday.
The Lakers have won both of the previous meetings with Minnesota, but both of those games happened during the first week of the season.
Follow along for updates as the Lakers take on the Timberwolves on Tuesday night:
1Q: Timberwolves 21, Lakers 16
Marcus Smart had a team-high 5 points in the first quarter for the Lakers. Luka Doncic had 4 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Doncic was 2-for-10 from the field and 0-for-3 from 3.
Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 6 points in the first quarter. Anthony Edwards had 3 points. He went 1-for-8 from the field and 0-for-5 from 3.
Luka Doncic provides Lakers with first lead of game
Luka Doncic provided the Lakers with their first lead of the game with a driving layup. Lakers lead Timberwolves 7-6 with 5:53 left in the first quarter. The Lakers had a chance to extend that lead moments later, but Deandre Ayton missed a pair of free throws.
Marcus Smart adds Lakers’ first points
Guard Marcus Smart scored the Lakers’ first points of the game with a cutting layup off an assist from Luka Doncic with 7:25 left in the first quarter. The Lakers started the game 0-for-8 before Smart scored. Bothteams were a combined 3-for-21 to start the game.
Timberwolves take early lead vs. Lakers
How to watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves: TV channel, live stream
- Start time: 11 p.m. ET
- Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
- TV Channel: NBC, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
- Live stream: Fubo; Peacock; NBA League Pass (subscription required); Spectrum SportsNet+ (subscription required)
Watch NBA games on Fubo
Lakers without Kleber and Hayes
The Lakers will out both backup centers tonight. Maxi Kleber has been ruled out with a lumbar back strain. Jaxson Hayes was also ruled out with back soreness.
Drew Timme will serve as the backup center for the Lakers tonight.
Bam Adebayo moves ahead of Kobe Bryant
Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced at Crypto.com Arena that Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat moved ahead of Kobe Bryant for the second-highest single-game scoring performance tonight.
Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006.
The announcement was met with boos from the home crowd.
Timberwolves starting lineup vs. Lakers
Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo will make up the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting lineup tonight against the Lakers.
Lakers starting lineup vs. Timberwolves
Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic will make up the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup tonight against the Timberwolves.
Luka Doncic arrives for warmups
Doncic is expected to play tonight for the Lakers. He was on the court for warmups just hours after the report regarding his breakupfromhis fiancée and the potential custody battle that will follow. The couple has two children together.
LeBron James ruled out vs. Timberwolves
LeBron James has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves. James has a right hip and left foot injury. It will be his third straight missed game.
James did participate in a shoot-around at the team’s facility on Tuesday.
‘He still just needs a couple more days,’ Lakers coach JJ Redick said during his pregame media availability. ‘He’s still day-to-day. …’
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch believes the Lakers will start Rui Hachimura, citing that he’s having a career year with his 3-point shot.Finch also stated during his pregame media availability that he expects Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves to continue to make up a bulk of the offense for Los Angeles with James out.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves injury report
(Updated 10:30 p.m. ET on March 9)
Lakers: LeBron James (right hip contusion, left foot arthritis; out)
Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson (right knee soreness; questionable)
Lakers next five games
- March 12 vs. Chicago Bulls
- March 14 vs. Denver Nuggets
- March 16 @ Houston Rockets
- March 18 @ Houston Rockets
- March 19 @ Miami Heat
Lakers vs Timberwolves odds
(Odds according to BetMGM)
- Spread: Timberwolves (-2.5)
- Moneyline: Timberwolves (-125), Lakers (+105)
- Over/under: 233.5