Lakers Timberwolves Preview: First Game Back-To-Back Close Out 2023

"LeBron James celebrates his 39th birthday as the Lakers take on the Timberwolves, facing off against top talent on both teams."

The Los Angeles Lakers have had a jam-packed December with tons of travel, and that trend will continue as they head to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves on Saturday night and then face the New Orleans Pelicans on New Year's Eve.

This will be the Lakers' second trip to Minnesota in recent weeks, and they are looking to avenge their previous loss to the top team in the Western Conference. Despite putting up a tough fight in their last matchup, the Lakers fell short without LeBron James in the lineup. However, James will be celebrating his 39th birthday and is expected to tough it out on the court, despite dealing with a non-COVID illness. James has a history of playing well on his birthday, and the Lakers will need him at his best against the Timberwolves.

While the Lakers will be missing Gabe Vincent due to knee surgery, they will have Cam Reddish back in the lineup after he missed the last game with a groin injury. The Timberwolves present a tough challenge for the Lakers due to their size and length, with players like Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels posing significant defensive threats.

The Lakers' recent starting lineup change was made with matchups like this in mind, as they will need length and size to match up with the Timberwolves on both ends of the court. Jarred Vanderbilt will likely spend a lot of time guarding Anthony Edwards, who has been having an All-Star caliber season for the Timberwolves.

On the other side of the court, the Timberwolves will need to account for Anthony Davis, who has been on a tear recently. Davis has been putting up impressive numbers and shooting efficiently, so the Timberwolves will need to come up with a plan to slow him down.

Key reserves for the Lakers include Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Max Christie, and Christian Wood, while the Timberwolves will rely on players like Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Troy Brown Jr. for support. Both teams will be looking to close out the year with a win, making for an exciting matchup on Saturday night.