Lakers at Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have enjoyed a memorable three-quarters of a season but are dragging a bit as they enter Thursday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. Minnesota was 13 games above .500 just 3 1/2 weeks ago but has gone just 4-7 since as it plays its final contest prior to the All-Star break.
The Timberwolves are looking to start a new home winning streak after their 13-game run ended when they were outgunned 126-108 by Houston on Tuesday. All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns leads the NBA with 50 double-doubles, including a performance against the Rockets in which he recorded 35 points on 12-of-16 shooting and 12 rebounds. Los Angeles has experienced defensive issues on the first two stops of its three-game trek, allowing 130 points in Saturday's loss to Dallas before being hammered 139-117 by New Orleans four nights later. "We’ve got to get our mojo back. We somehow lost it quickly,” Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters of the back-to-back setbacks that have followed a stretch during which his team won 12 of 16 games.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (23-33): Lonzo Ball will miss his 15th consecutive game due to a sprained left knee, but the rookie point guard said he will be ready to return when Los Angeles returns from the All-Star break on Feb. 23 against Dallas. "It's at a point where I can play, but it still hurts a little bit," Ball told reporters. "So they want to just get that out and take this week, and we are playing good right now, so no need to rush it." Los Angeles is weighing how new acquisition Isaiah Thomas will co-exist with Ball, and it didn't get much of a chance to make an assessment as he played only five minutes on Wednesday before being ejected after a tussle with Rajon Rondo.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (35-25): Minnesota is considering whether or not to sign point guard Derrick Rose, who currently is a free agent as he was released by Utah two days after being acquired from Cleveland. Rose played for Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau in Chicago and was teammates with All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler and power forward Taj Gibson, who is pushing for Minnesota to sign the former NBA MVP. "That's my guy," Gibson told reporters. "We've been in the trenches for a long time. It'd be good to have him on our team, because it's just good to have veteran leadership, but we'll just let Thibs handle that."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers have dropped four straight visits to Minneapolis, including a 114-96 loss on Jan. 1.
2. Los Angeles PF Julius Randle is averaging 20.3 points on 61.5 percent shooting over his last seven games.
3. Minnesota SF Andrew Wiggins recorded just seven points on 2-of-14 shooting against Houston and has scored fewer than 20 in each of his last eight contests.