Vegas NBA Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Frank Martin
The Minnesota Timberwolves are beginning to believe they can be a playoff team this season. After taking out contenders the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks in the last two games, the Timberwolves will be looking to pick off another and reach .500 when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Kevin Love is locked into a contract extension and is developing a bond on the court with rookie point guard Ricky Rubio, who seems to be getting better with each game. Minnesota is even showing signs of becoming a competent defensive club.
The Lakers can usually manage to keep teams below 100 points. Getting to the century mark themselves has been a much more difficult pursuit. Los Angeles has dropped four of its last five games and has reached 100 points only once this season. The Lakers began their two-game road trip with a loss at Milwaukee on Saturday and have dropped four straight on the road.
- Los Angeles Lakers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
When: 7:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 29, 2012
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: 7 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), FSNO (Minnesota)
The Timberwolves have opened as 1.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NBA Basketball Odds.
Los Angeles Lakers (11-9): Los Angeles has beaten the Timberwolves 15 straight times but is not the same team right now. Phil Jackson’s triangle offense is gone, and the team has yet to develop any consistent scoring threat other than Kobe Bryant under new coach Mike Brown. Bryant narrowly missed a triple-double with 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds on Saturday but sat at the end as the Lakers managed 16 points in the fourth quarter en route to a 100-89 setback.
Minnesota Timberwolves (9-10): “This year, we’re playing to win the game,” Love said of his team. “…We just continue to get better, especially down the stretch of games.” Minnesota won’t be deterred by its long losing streak to the Lakers. The Timberwolves broke a 16-game slide against the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 2 and beat the Spurs again on Friday, 87-79. Rubio matched a season high with 18 points in the win and is averaging 14.5 points and 11.3 assists in the last four games.
1. Rubio’s eight point/assist double-doubles are the most for a Minnesota player since Sam Cassell had 18 in 2003-04.
2. Minnesota F Michael Beasley returned to the lineup on Friday after an 11-game absence due to a foot sprain.
3. Bryant has averaged 23.4 points in 52 career games against the Timberwolves.
NBA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Timberwolves 95, Lakers 92
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kevin love - kobe bryant - los angeles lakers - michael beasley - mike brown - minnesota timberwolves - phil jackson - ricky rubio - sam cassell - target center
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