Lakers at Timberwolves
THE STORY:
The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be two different teams at home and on
the road. At the Staples Center, the Lakers are capable of beating the
Miami Heat in convincing fashion. On the road, they lose back-to-back
games to the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards. Los Angeles has
not had much trouble with the Minnesota Timberwolves in recent seasons,
taking 17 straight in the series. But the Timberwolves enter Friday’s
meeting on a roll with three straight wins catapulting them into playoff
position in the Western Conference.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, KCAL (Lakers), FS North (Timberwolves)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (23-16):
Los Angeles is tied for the second-best home record in the NBA at 17-2
but is only 6-14 away from the Staples Center. After an overtime loss at
Detroit on Tuesday, the Lakers built up a 21-point lead in the third
quarter at Washington on Wednesday only to have the lowly Wizards storm
back in a 106-101 setback. Kobe Bryant scored 30 points but went 1 for
10 from the field in the fourth quarter. One of Los Angeles’ few road
triumphs came at Minnesota 106-101 on Jan. 29. The Lakers had little
trouble with the Timberwolves again in the first game out of the
All-Star break, getting 31 points from Bryant in a 104-85 triumph Feb.
29.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (21-19): Kevin Love missed that
Feb. 29 meeting with the flu but has been unstoppable lately. The
All-Star forward is averaging 36.7 points and 14.3 rebounds while
shooting 13 for 23 from 3-point range in the last three games.
Minnesota, which has not made the playoffs since the 2003-04 season, is
tied for eighth place but is only three games behind the third-place
Memphis Grizzlies in the tightly packed West. The Timberwolves have been
without center Nikola Pekovic because of a foot injury the past two
games but are hopeful he can return against the Lakers.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Minnesota has won five straight at home.
2. Bryant has torched the Timberwolves for 33.0 points in the two 2011-12 meetings.
3. Love has struggled to 13.9 points on 39.7 percent shooting against Los Angeles in his career.