Gameday preview: Timberwolves face Lakers with playoff spot on the line
As the postseason begins, the Wolves find themselves shorthanded for the opener without Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid.
April 11, 2023 at 12:23AM
![Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) dunks the ball in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday, March 31, 2023 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.. ] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/IHY5G3VVDP22A6XDCNVZPMAIZY.jpg?&w=712)
Western Conference play-in game
9 p.m. Tuesday • Crypto.com Arena • TNT, BSN, 830-AM
Wolves update: If they win, they will be the No. 7 seed for the playoffs and play No. 2 Memphis. If they lose, they will play Friday at Target Center against the loser of Wednesday's New Orleans-Oklahoma City game. ... C Rudy Gobert is serving a one-game suspension for throwing a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson on Sunday. ... F Jaden McDaniels (hand) and F Naz Reid (wrist) are out, but F Jaylen Nowell (knee) could return. ... The Wolves were 23rd in offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating during their 42-40 regular season. ... G Anthony Edwards averages 24.6 points and C Karl-Anthony Towns 20.8.
Lakers update: They were 43-39 and were 20th in the NBA in offensive rating and 13th on defense in finishing seventh in the West, a spot ahead of the Wolves. ... G Dennis Schröder (neck) is questionable. ... The NBA's all-time scoring leader, LeBron James, averaged 28.9 points, 6.8 assists and 8.3 rebounds per game. ... C Anthony Davis averages 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds. ... G D'Angelo Russell, acquired from the Wolves at the trade deadline, averaged 17.4 points. Ex-Wolves Malik Beasley (11.1 points) and Jarred Vanderbilt (7.2) also pitched in.
The Wolves cut a 19-point second-half deficit to two, but Naz Reid’s three-point attempt missed at the final horn against the defending NBA champions.
