Lakers at Timberwolves
The Los Angeles Lakers are finding life without superstar LeBron James a little difficult with losses in four of the last five games. The Lakers will again be without James when they open a two-game road trip by visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
James, who suffered a groin injury in a win at the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day and is expected to be reevaluated next week, was on the bench watching as Los Angeles suffered a 119-112 home loss to the lowly New York Knicks on Friday. Joining him on the absentee list was veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, who is out at least a month after undergoing finger surgery, and second-leading scorer Kyle Kuzma (18.3 points), who suffered a lower back contusion in a loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday and is questionable for the road trip. The Timberwolves are dealing with their own injury issues but got point guard Jeff Teague (ankle) back from a nine-game absence on Friday and watched him collect 23 points and 10 assists in a 120-103 win over the Orlando Magic. Teague was one of six players to score in double figures for Minnesota as it overcame a 19-point, first-half deficit by turning up the defense after the break.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (21-18): Los Angeles was outscored 33-20 in the fourth quarter on Friday without James around to stabilize both ends of the floor. "It was us," Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters of the fourth quarter. "We fouled. I think they shot 20 free throws in the fourth quarter. ... We have to start making some of these open shots. But that's still not the main reason we lost tonight. We stopped making those extra passes." Small forward Brandon Ingram and point guard Lonzo Ball are trying to step up in the absence of James and Rondo and combined for 11 turnovers in Friday's setback.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (18-21): Minnesota surrendered 68 points in the first half on Friday but cut that number to 35 after the break but got a boost off the bench from power forward Anthony Tolliver and benefited from Teague's strong return in coming back for the win. "We eased into the game, and you can't do that," Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "But once we got going, we made a couple hustle plays. That will usually ignite you. Once we did that, the defense got going." Tolliver was out of Thibodeau's rotation for over a month and a half before logging 26 minutes in a loss at Boston on Wednesday and pushing to 30 on Friday while burying 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 29 points and 15 rebounds on Friday for his sixth straight double-double.
2. Los Angeles C JaVale McGee is averaging 13.7 points and 9.7 rebounds in three games since returning from a bout with pneumonia.
3. The teams split the first two meetings, with Minnesota earning a 124-120 home win on Oct. 29.