Game Preview #60 – Timberwolves at Lakers

The Timberwolves head to LA for a critical matchup against the Lakers. Can the Wolves dig deep and pull out a much needed win to keep their hopes for the #4 seed and home court advantage alive?

Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
Date: February 27th, 2025
Time: 9:30 PM CST
Location: Crypto.com Arena
Television Coverage: NBA TV/FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Wolves vs. Lakers: A Crucial Battle in Hollywood with Major Playoff Implications

Well, Wolves fans, that was fun for about 48 hours. After one of the most incredible comebacks in franchise history, where Minnesota erased a 25-point deficit against OKC, reality is now knocking on the door. And reality looks like Luka Doncic in a Lakers jersey.

Yes, the Wolves’ final game in this brutal four-game stretch comes Thursday night in Los Angeles, where they’ll take on a Lakers team that is finally starting to put things together after the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas and Luka to LA.

This is the fourth and final time Minnesota will square off against the Lakers this season, and it’s a massive game in the standings. A win would clinch the season series for the Wolves, which could be crucial in potential tiebreakers. A loss, though? That could be the final nail in the coffin for Minnesota’s hopes of securing home-court advantage in the first round.

So yeah, no pressure.

A Look Back at the Season Series

These two teams have already met three times, with Minnesota currently holding a 2-1 edge. But this is the first time the Wolves will see this new-look Lakers squad with Luka Doncic running the show.

Let’s recap how things have gone so far:

• Game 1 (Season Opener in LA): The Wolves looked completely out of sync, struggling to integrate Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo into the offense. The Lakers took advantage and handed Minnesota an early-season wake-up call.
• Game 2 (December in Minnesota): The Wolves responded with a 29-point demolition of LA at Target Center. This was a classic “we’re better than you” performance, as Anthony Edwards and Co. overwhelmed the Lakers on both ends of the floor.
• Game 3 (Later in December, Minnesota): The Wolves backed it up with another win, this time by 10 points, proving that their first victory wasn’t a fluke.

Now, the Wolves have a chance to officially win the season series, but it won’t be easy.

Why This Game is So Important

The standings say it all.

• The Lakers currently sit in the 4th seed in the West, four and a half games ahead of Minnesota.
• The Wolves are stuck in 7th, sitting right on the play-in tournament bubble and trying to claw their way into the top six.

If the Wolves lose this game, they’ll be seven full games behind LA in the loss column with less than two months to go—a nearly impossible gap to close.

If they win, though? Suddenly, the deficit shrinks to five games, and with a much softer schedule ahead, the Wolves could realistically still chase down home-court advantage in the first round.

The Luka Factor

This game isn’t just about LeBron anymore.

Luka Doncic is now in LA, and Wolves fans don’t need a reminder of how dangerous that is.

We saw it firsthand in the Western Conference Finals last year, where Luka and Kyrie Irving torched Minnesota en route to their Finals appearance.

Now, Luka is wearing purple and gold, and the Lakers finally have a star who can truly take pressure off LeBron. That said, I’m not entirely sold on this Lakers roster just yet. There’s talent, sure, but there are real weaknesses that the Wolves could exploit.

Keys to the Game

1. Contain Luka (As Much as Humanly Possible)

The Wolves have a deep rotation of elite perimeter defenders, and they’ll need all of them to try and slow down Dončić.

• Jaden McDaniels will probably get the first crack at him.
• Jalen Clark (if healthy) could be a huge asset after what he did to SGA last game.
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker will likely rotate onto Luka as well.

Will that be enough to stop him? Probably not. But if the Wolves can limit him to a pedestrian game (by his standards) and force his teammates to step up, they’ll be in great shape.

2. Don’t Let the Lakers’ Supporting Cast Beat You

If Luka is going to get his points, fine. What Minnesota CANNOT allow is LeBron and Austin Reaves getting easy looks. The Wolves defended SGA brilliantly on Monday, rotating well and making life difficult for OKC’s secondary options. They need that same effort here.

3. Win the Battle Inside

This is where things get interesting. When the Wolves last faced the Lakers, they still had Anthony Davis patrolling the paint. But AD is gone now, and Minnesota suddenly has the size advantage—if their bigs can play.

Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle are both game-time decisions. If the Wolves can get their bigs back and dominate the paint, this game swings in their favor immediately.

If not? It’s all on Naz Reid to once again hold it down against a Lakers frontcourt that is definitely beatable.

4. Attack the Lakers’ Defense

Let’s be clear: The Lakers’ defense is NOT good—and it’s even worse without AD. There is no excuse for a scoring drought here. The Wolves need to be aggressive attacking the rim, force LA’s weak defenders into switches, and make the extra pass to find open shots.

The Wolves’ offense is at its best when the ball is moving, and against this Lakers defense, that should lead to plenty of open looks.

Final Thoughts

This is a make-or-break game for the Wolves. Win, and they keep the dream alive for a top-four seed. Lose, and they’re staring at a nearly impossible gap with 22 games to go.

There’s been a lot of frustration this season, but Monday’s comeback win over OKC felt like a turning point. If the Wolves can build on that, they can climb back into contention.

But if they fall flat in LA?

Then they’re almost guaranteed to be starting the playoffs on the road against a top-flight opponent. It’s not a death sentence, but it makes returning to the Conference Finals that much more difficult.

Here’s hoping they come out hungry, locked in, and ready to take it to the Lakers.