Who will the winner of the Lakers vs Timberwolves play-in game play against in the playoffs?
As both teams prepare for their Play-In Tournament clash, here’s a look at what awaits the winner i.e., the team who secures the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.
On Tuesday night, the Lakers will host the Timberwolves in an all-important Play-In Tournament game which will see the winner head to the playoffs where they will begin their post season run with Game 1 tipping off this coming Sunday. The question is, what team awaits them?
The Memphis Grizzlies could be a problem
With the No. 7 seed at stake when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves, we can expect Tuesday night’s Play-In Tournament game to be heated. The loser of the game will go on to face the winner of the Pelicans vs Thunder game, while the winner will go on to play the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. Needless to say, that’s a tricky matchup given how the Grizzlies have been playing recently and that’s been without their talisman, Ja Morant, who only recently rejoined the team after his controversial suspension. Indeed, in the words of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, “Memphis is no joke.”
“The Lakers could end up home in the first round. Let’s just call it what it is. We want to applaud the Lakers for what they have done this year. They’ve got a chance. I’m not gonna sit here and tell you that they don’t have a chance, they got LeBron James... Anthony Davis showed up, we know what he’s capable of when he’s on the basketball court. And since the trade that ultimately led to [the Lakers] acquiring [Malik] Beasley and D’Angelo Russell and [Jarred] Vanderbilt and these guys, they’re the best team in the Western Conference at 18-9 since that trade… But we’re talking about the Memphis Grizzlies here. I’ll admit there’s a cause to pause because Steven Adams is going to be out, Brandon Clarke is going to be out... but last time I checked, they got Ja Morant, and this brother is something special. And he’s on a mission... I look at [Desmond] Bane. I look at Dillon Brooks. I look at Ja Morant. I look at Jaren Jackson Jr.… If [Jackson] can find a way to get himself out of foul trouble, then let me be very very clear to you, America - Memphis is no joke.”
Lakers or Timberwolves?
Truth be told, this one is a toss-up. On the one side you’ve got the Lakers who have seen stars such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis find form toward the season’s end. On the other you’ve got a Timberwolves team that is similar in nature. Yes, it’s true that star center, Rudy Gobert, will miss the game after he was suspended for punching teammate, Kyle Anderson, but rest assured the Timberwolves are no pushover. What’s more, Gobert’s absence may actually create a scenario in which the team can try different things, a freedom so to speak. When all is said and done, this is going to come down to details rather than things like head-to-head or who is playing and who is not. The Lakers have never lost a playoff series in which David and James were healthy. The Timberwolves are also dealing with the loss of Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid through injury, but again this team has fought its way to this point without them. Ultimately, the odds slightly favor the Lakers to come out on top, but don’t be surprised if Minnesota spoils the party.