Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves / NBA – Lakers fans are used to spending Christmas at the Staples Center to cheer on their team. Earlier, while competing for the championship, the Lakers met the strongest opponents of that time, but even now they will receive an excellent team at home. Minnesota is playing great this year and is in very good fourth place in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers had eleven wins and 20 defeats before battling the Wolves for eleventh place in the Western Conference. The road to the playoffs is really tough because the Lakers already have six wins behind the top 8. At home, they have recorded 6 wins and 9 defeats, while they have recorded only two wins in nine matches against the teams from the Western Conference. One of the victories they recently scored at Houston was when they finished long rocketing victories.
Coach Walton has been rather dissatisfied lately with the referees’ decisions, which cost his team a couple of times, so he said that the Lakers would now have a positive result if those controversial decisions had not been made. The last match (loss to Portland) missed Ingram, but now he should be there while the last three matches Center Lopez missed. Rookie Ball has improved his game, especially the throw, but the most pleasant surprise continues to be winger Kuzma, who is currently the best Lakers player. He is the first rookie in the history of the Lakers, after Jerry West, who scored at least 25 points in three consecutive games.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves play a very attractive basketball this season and linger deservedly at the head of the Western Conference. They have recorded 20 wins and 13 defeats and in the distance they have a positive result (9-7). Currently they are in a series of three victories (Portland, Denver, Phoenix), while they have celebrated seven times in the last ten duels. They have not yet met the Lakers and this is their first duel of four scheduled for this season. Currently, they have no problems with the injuries, only winger Bjelica is out of action for a long time.
The Wolves have great starting five and each player scores double-digit points on average. The team is led by Butler with 20.6 points per match, while Center Towns scores 20.5 points and 11.7 rebounds on average. The young Wiggins scored an average of 17.6 points, while Playmaker Teague posted 13.7 points and 7.1 assists. On the reserve bench they have the veteran Crawford, who in addition to the injured Bjelica and Center Dieng gives the team of coach Thibodeau additional strength. Although they have much better defense and better attack than the Lakers, they are much weaker in rebounding, but this is partly a consequence of the good throw (47.1% per match).
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves TIP
The NBA matches, which are held at Christmas, are somehow more intended for the audience. It is certain that this match will be in a holiday mood, but nevertheless the Wolves are favorites in this duel and have better chances to win, especially as the Lakers have no real solution for the opposing inside line.
