Lakers Aim for Season Sweep Against Timberwolves in LA Clash

The Los Angeles Lakers will attempt to complete a season sweep of the Minnesota Timberwolves when they meet at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on March 5, 2024. The Lakers have already secured victories in their previous two encounters this season, including a commanding 128-110 win on October 24, 2023, and a tight 116-115 triumph just five days later.

Luka Doncic has been a standout performer for the Lakers, scoring a season-high 49 points in the first matchup against the Timberwolves. This current meeting carries significant implications, as the Lakers hold a tiebreaker advantage in the standings, having won two out of three games against Minnesota. The Timberwolves currently sit in third place in the Western Conference, while the Lakers are just one game behind in fifth.

In their most recent game, the Lakers secured a 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks, marking their fifth win in six outings. Doncic contributed 35 points and eight rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 25 points. LeBron James was absent due to a left elbow contusion and left foot soreness. Los Angeles maintained a strong lead, with their advantage never dipping below double digits in the final quarter.

Reaves commented on the team’s performance, stating, “I just thought we played hard, stuck to the game plan and competed. That’s what it came down to. I thought we played harder than them and we set the tone early and had a really good third quarter.”

Center Deandre Ayton made his return to the lineup after missing the previous seven quarters due to left knee soreness, contributing eight rebounds in just 20 minutes of action. Should James be unable to play on Tuesday, he will have missed all three regular-season games against the Timberwolves, having also been sidelined during the season opener with sciatica.

The Timberwolves, on the other hand, are looking to rebound after suffering a 119-92 loss to the Orlando Magic, which ended their five-game winning streak. Anthony Edwards led the scoring with 34 points, but the team struggled offensively, shooting 35.7% from the field and 22.5% from three-point range, both season lows.

Minnesota head coach Chris Finch expressed disappointment with the team’s performance, remarking, “I thought finishing around the rim was not good. The 3s looked really deep, kind of like need-to-get-shots-up type 3s. There was no rhythm to the offense, really.”

Rudy Gobert, a key player for the Timberwolves, emphasized the need for mental resilience, stating, “We were not the team that we want to be mentally. We have to be more resilient, whether it’s bad calls or when the shots don’t go in or when things don’t go our way. Yeah, we gotta be tougher.”

Edwards played only in the first game against the Lakers, where he scored 31 points, missing the subsequent matchup due to a right hamstring strain. As the teams prepare for their final clash of the season, both will be seeking momentum as they approach the playoff stretch.