8:30 p.m. at L.A. Lakers • FSN, NBA TV (830-AM)
Gameday preview: Wolves at L.A. Lakers
April 9, 2017 at 2:03AM
Lottery-bound Lakers on move
Preview: With their draft pick kept only if they get a top-three pick, the Lakers are starting to win after they have lost almost all season. They have beaten Memphis, San Antonio and Sacramento after losing 18 of 20 before that. They still trail Phoenix by 1½ games in the race for the NBA's worst record and the best chance at winning the most chances in the lottery. … The Lakers won 130-119 in overtime Mar. 24 after the Wolves blew an eight-point lead in the final 2½ minutes last month at Staples Center and the Wolves won the rematch 119-104 at Target Center six days later. The Wolves are 8-6 in the series since ending the Lakers' 22-game win streak against them in November 2013.
Players to watch: Lakers F Julius Randle had 23 points and 12 rebounds in the overtime victory over the Wolves last month and had 25 points and six rebounds in Friday's 98-94 victory over the Kings. … Wolves PG Ricky Rubio scored a career-high 33 points vs. the Lakers at Target Center on March 30. His 26-point, 12-assist night in Friday's 120-113 loss at Utah was his ninth consecutive double-digit scoring game, tying the longest streak of both his season and his career. He has scored in double digits in 20 of the past 22 games, averaging 16.7 points, 43.8 percent shooting and 10.5 assists in that time.
Injuries: Wolves G Zach LaVine (knee surgery) and F Nemanja Bjelica (foot surgery) are out. Lakers C Ivica Zubac (high ankle sprain) is out.
JERRY ZGODA
about the writer
The Wolves fell apart in the fourth quarter and have not won in Toronto in two decades.
