Timberwolves at L.A. Lakers Preview
Timberwolves at L.A. Lakers Previews
GAME: Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2) at L.A. Lakers Lakers (3-1)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, November 07 - 10:30 PM EST
SPREAD: Los Angeles -6.5 TOTAL: 200.5
The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the top offenses in the NBA, but they still are looking for more production from Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers attempt to bounce back from their first loss of the season Tuesday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center.
Los Angeles Lakers(3-1) leads the league in shooting at 51.1 percent, and is second in scoring at 110.8 points per game.
The Los Angeles Lakers opened their last game hitting 10 of their first 11 shots, but ended up losing to the Seattle SuperSonics 117-101 on Sunday. Lamar Odom scored just 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting after averaging 28.0 points his first three games.
Kobe Bryant finished with a team-high 15 points, but was just 4 of 10 from the field. The eight-time All-Star scored 23 points in his season debut Friday against the Sonics, but never found an offensive rhythm against them Sunday.
"I'm just kind of getting the flow down of the game a little bit," said Kobe Bryant, who did have a team-high nine assists. "I haven't played in a long, long time so I am just trying to get my rhythm back. My passes were a little bit sharper, so it was working into the offense. Going forward I am just trying to get in the flow of the offense and stepping up my game from there."
Kobe Bryant averaged 37.0 points in 40 home games last season, and Los Angeles has been outstanding in its two games this season at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Lakers are averaging 116.0 points and shooting 55.4 percent at home, and have not started 3-0 at Staples Center since winning their first 12 games in the 2003-04 season.
Los Angeles is 15-4 all-time at Staples Center against Minnesota (2-2), but the Minnesota Timberwolves have won four of the last five games overall between the teams.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost three of four to them last season, dropping the season series to the Wolves for just the second time in franchise history. Kobe Bryant averaged 27.0 points while shooting 50.6 percent in four games against the Timberwolves last season, and Lamar Odom averaged 18.8 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Minnesota has the sixth-best defensive field goal percentage this season (43.2 percent), but has dropped consecutive games heading into the finale of its four-game road trip. The Timberwolves shot just 41.3 percent, including 22.2 percent (4 of 18) from 3-point range, in their 93-81 loss Monday to Sacramento.
"It's what I describe as a stinker," Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said. "We didn't attack their intensity, and I think we just sleepwalked. Sacramento brought their 'A' game. I thought we brought our 'B' game."
Mike James scored 23 points, while Kevin Garnett added 15 and 10 rebounds. Garnett briefly left the game with 8 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly, but returned moments later and is expected to play in this game.
Garnett has recorded a double-double in all four games, averaging 21.5 points and 11.8 rebounds. He averaged 23.0 points and 11.3 rebounds in four games against the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
- The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at STAPLES Center.
Oddsmakers currently have the Lakers listed as 6˝-point favorites versus the Timberwolves, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
The Timberwolves were defeated 93-81 last time out by the Sacramento Kings. Minnesota was a 4.5-point underdog in the game and the final score went UNDER the posted total (185).
Mike James collected 23 points, four rebounds and four assists, while shooting 8-for-13 from the field in the loss.
The Lakers lost to Seattle 117-101 as a 2-point underdog Sunday night. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (214.5).
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field to go with nine assists. Jordan Farmar netted 14 points and Andrew Bynum had 13 points.
Current streak:
Minnesota has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Minnesota: 2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS
Los Angeles: 3-1 SU, 2-1-1 ATS
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Orlando are 7-3
After playing Sacramento are 6-4
After a loss are 4-6
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Portland are 6-4
After playing Seattle are 3-7
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Minnesota is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games on the road
Minnesota is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games
LA Lakers are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games at home
LA Lakers are 20-5 SU in their last 25 games when playing at home against Minnesota
LA Lakers are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games at home
Next up:
Minnesota home to Orlando, Saturday, November 11
LA Lakers at Portland Trailblazers, Wednesday, November 8
Lakers vs Timberwolves news:
Lakers 107 vs Timberwolves 102 03/18/07
Lakers vs Timberwolves Preview 03/18/07
L.A. Lakers 107, Minnesota 117 03/06/07
03/06/07 Lakers Twolves Preview
12/21/06 Lakers 111 Timber Wolves 94
11/07/06 Lakers 95 Wolves 88
11/07/06 Timberwolves at L.A. Lakers Preview
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• Lower back spasms from the court.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Restaurants.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Experiences
JR Pinnock news:
• Lakers sign JR Pinnock
Smush Parker news:
• Smush Parker Basketball Camp
Staples Center news:
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•Hyundai Returns to X Games 13 Rally Car Racing
• Rumorville Eric Clapton to play the Staples Center
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Phil Jackson news:
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