After 82 games, the NBA Play-in Tournament is here, with most eyes on one key matchup. Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 128-117 defeat of the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 113-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, it will be a 7-8 showdown between LA and Minnesota in the city of stars.
The Lakers are the first team in nearly two decades to have a winning record after starting the season 2-10 or worse. After a season of trials and tribulations, they seem willing and ready to make another fight to the playoffs. Their supporting cast will be crucial in helping them get there.
Los Angeles Lakers Supporting Cast Critical in Looming Play-in Matchup
Key Lakers to Watch
“I’m getting there at the right time.”
Those were LeBron James’s words after his 36-point performance in the Lakers’ regular season finale against the Jazz. Since returning from an ankle sprain that sidelined him for over a month, James has averaged 25.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. He, along with the dominance of Anthony Davis (25 PPG, 13 RPG, 2.2 BPG since Feb. 11), have been instrumental in leading the purple and gold to the best record in the West since the trade deadline, among other stats posited by “Silver Screen & Roll” writer Alex Regla:
The Lakers since their trade deadline players were available (Feb.11th):
18-8 (3rd best record in league/best in the West)
#1 in defRTG
#2 in opponent eFG%
6th in point differentialTheir new starting lineup (prior to Jazz game):
123.9 offRTG | 103.7 defRTG | +20.1 netRTG— Alex Regla (@AlexmRegla) April 9, 2023
Aside from Davis and James, though, a plethora of other key players have made their marks in the Lakers’ resurgence.
The Veterans
D’Angelo Russell has been the catalyst among the team’s newest additions, serving as the point guard the Lakers needed to succeed alongside AD and LeBron. Despite dealing with numerous injuries, he has averaged 17.4 points and 6.1 assists per game with LA while shooting 48% from the field, 41% from deep, and 73% from the charity stripe. One of his notable performances came against the Toronto Raptors on March 10th, where he dropped 28 points with five threes in front of a roaring home crowd. His ability to score and facilitate has worked wonders for LA. The same goes for his electrifying play in transition that has had the home fans jumping into Crypto.com Arena.
Malik Beasley, who struggled from distance early on in LA, has appeared to find his groove at just the right time. In the Lakers’ final two games against the Suns and Jazz, he shot 11-of-24 from three-point range while scoring 21 and 13 points in those contests, respectively. Beasley is the epitome of the phrase “Shooters shoot,” being unafraid to fire from deep and filling a vital role for the Lakers. One Laker fan noted just how incredible Beasley’s shooting has become:
This is truly mind-boggling
Malik Beasley Shooting Splits w/Lakers:
Wide Open 3s (Closest Defender 6+ Ft)
30% (40 attempts)Open 3s (Closest Defender 4+ Ft)
37.4% (91 attempts)Tight 3s (Closest Defender 2-4 Ft)
38.1% (42 attempts)— LAbound (@LAbound2) April 8, 2023
Beasley touched on his hot shooting following the team’s win over the Phoenix Suns, saying, “I’ve put in a lot of work, so at some point, it’s going to fall, and tonight it did. Hopefully, it continues through the playoffs; that’s the time I really want it to come.”
The Young Guys
Additional players to look for are Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura, whose youth and energy at the guard and forward slots are heavily noticed in games.
The fan-favorite Reaves has made the leap in his second year, putting up 13 points and 3.4 assists per game on 53-39-86 splits. He has been even more impressive as a starter, seamlessly fitting in with James, Davis, and Russell and averaging 15.1 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds with the first unit. Look for him to take on an increased responsibility with his aggressive mentality in the postseason.
Likewise, Vanderbilt and Hachimura have been breaths of fresh air in the front court, excelling at the little things. The Vandolorian has put up 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game as a Laker. Likewise, Hachimura has averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, shooting 48% from the field, nearly 30% from deep, and 72% from the line. He has been particularly lethal from inside the perimeter, making 58% of his shots from 16 feet to the three-point line. As James told reporters, “I think he’s a rhythm player, and when he knows he’s going to play, and he’s going to get a significant amount of minutes off the bench, I think he can be really, really good for us.”
Revenge Game
This game will mean a little more for Russell, Beasley, and Vanderbilt, who all donned the Minnesota green for nearly four seasons (2019-2023) before going to LA. While Beasley and Vando were first shipped to Minnesota in the Rudy Gobert deal, Russell came directly from the Twin Cities to the City of Stars, as the three reunited to become part of a solid core around two superstars.
When asked about the looming revenge game, Beasley said, “Excited to play [the Timberwolves], get our revenge back.”
Challenges That Await
Despite the off-court drama that has clouded the Wolves in the past 24 hours, including a suspension for center Rudy Gobert, they still offer some challenges that the Lakers must tame.
In their regular season meetings, the Lakers went 1-2 against the Wolves. Anthony Edwards averaged nearly 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in that span while shooting 40.7% from deep. Likewise, Karl-Anthony Towns remained a problem in two games he played against LA, averaging 22 points, eight rebounds, and five assists against Davis and the Lakers. On the other side, Davis made Minnesota look like barbecue chicken. In the two March games he played against the Wolves, Davis averaged 38 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks while shooting 56% from the field, 33% from deep, and 85% from the line. James faced the Wolves in October and late March, putting up 23 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
Improving at the Right Time
In their last matchup at the end of March, where the Wolves prevailed 110-102, Minnesota excelled in every statistical category, notably in three-point percentage (41.2% vs. 32.3%), fast-break points (26 vs. 10) and bench points (56 vs. 44). The Lakers have been able to tighten some loose screws since then, posting a net rating of 8.6 (121.1 offensive, 112.6 defensive), scoring 127.2 points per game—the second-best mark in the league—on 60.9% True Shooting.
With Gobert suspended and Jaden McDaniels (broken hand) and Naz Reid (left wrist) sidelined with injuries, the Lakers must take advantage on both ends of the floor. Given their newfound length and versatility in the frontcourt, coupled with a dominant duo of James and Davis, expect it to be a dogfight down low. Additionally, containing Edwards will be a challenge that LA’s guards must be up to face.
As James said in his postgame interview against Utah, “It all [starts] on the defensive end. When we defend at a high level, we’ll be okay.”
The Last Word on Lakers vs. Wolves
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off of a dominant stretch, while the Wolves are looking to regain their composure. Tuesday’s matchup has the makings of a major battle, as a young and hungry Timberwolves team tries to dethrone a dominant Laker franchise that has equally clawed their way to the postseason.
