The Los Angeles Lakers are set to kick off their 2024-25 NBA season with an exciting matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Crypto.com Arena this Wednesday evening.

Both franchises will be aiming to bounce back from less-than-satisfactory playoff performances last year – the Lakers faced an early exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets in the first round, while the Timberwolves were thwarted in the Western Conference Finals by the Dallas Mavericks.

Match Context

In their final pre-season outing, the Lakers were on the wrong end of a 132-74 scoreline against the Golden State Warriors, a drubbing that concluded their preparations. Coach JJ Redick, eager to assess his bench, opted to rest all starting five after a thrilling 128-122 overtime win against the Phoenix Suns just a day prior. Youngster Bronny James had a notable night, contributing 17 points in 35 minutes, adding to his pre-season tally of 25.

Despite a pre-season campaign that saw the Lakers finish with a modest two wins and four defeats, Redick is now tasked with steering the storied franchise back to basketball glory. However, they face a daunting challenge against the Timberwolves, who have bested them in four of their last five encounters, including a recent pre-season game just weeks ago.

This season may mark the twilight of 39-year-old LeBron James’s illustrious career, as he vies for a fifth championship ring to distinguish him further from fellow competitors like Steph Curry and Draymond Green in the title race.

Timberwolves’ Outlook

For the Minnesota Timberwolves, their pre-season got off to a promising start with consecutive victories over the Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers. However, they stumbled in their last three fixtures leading up to this encounter. Chris Finch’s squad narrowly lost to the Denver Nuggets 132-126 at the Target Center in a rematch of last season’s exhilarating second-round playoff battle.

Similar to the Lakers, the Timberwolves rested their starters in their last game, allowing rookie Rob Dillingham to shine with 15 points and seven assists, signaling his potential impact this season. Following an unexpected but impressive run to the conference finals last year, Minnesota’s aspirations to remain competitive in the increasingly tough Western Conference are sky-high.

In a surprising move, the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, acquiring Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, Keita Bates-Diop, and a first-round pick in return. All eyes will be on how this shake-up influences their campaign.

As they commence their season on the road, anticipation builds to see how the Timberwolves will fare against the Lakers before heading to the Golden 1 Center to face the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

Form Guide

Los Angeles Lakers: L, L, W, L, W, L

Minnesota Timberwolves: W, W, L, L, L

Team Updates

On the player front, following his eye-catching pre-season performance, the Lakers have brought in undrafted guard Quincy Olivari on a two-way contract. Meanwhile, Armel Traore (hand) and Christian Koloko (illness) are ruled out for the opener, but both could return soon. Additionally, Dalton Knecht is sidelined due to a knee issue, while Rui Hachimura was absent with a calf problem.

On the health front, the Timberwolves are in relatively good shape, with only Naz Reid struggling with a shoulder impingement at this time. Shooting guard Anthony Edwards will look to maintain his scoring prowess against the Lakers after racking up 109 points across his last four regular-season matchups against them.

Projected Starting Lineups

Los Angeles Lakers: Russell, Reaves, James, Hachimura, Davis

Minnesota Timberwolves: Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Randle, Gobert

Prediction

Our prediction favors the Timberwolves to clinch victory by four or more points in what promises to be an electrifying clash. Both sides are eager to make a statement as the new season unfolds, but we anticipate the Timberwolves extending their recent stronghold over the Lakers.