All Lakers Expert Predictions For LA's Second Meeting With West's Best

It's what you might call a measuring stick game.

Tonight, your 17-15 Los Angeles Lakers head to the Target Center to take on the best team in the Western Conference, by record, in the mighty 23-7 Minnesota Timberwolves, who've suddenly transformed into a defensive juggernaut behind the play of All-Stars Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, plus small forward Jaden McDaniels. Unlike the Lakers, they shoot with abandon, too.

Can the Lakers win? Or at least cover the spread?

According to sports betting aggregator The Action Network, Los Angeles is a +4 underdog on the road against a tough Timberwolves squad that is currently an excellent 13-1 on its home turf. Outside of Karl-Anthony Towns (who's questionable with a sore left knee), everyone else in Minnesota's rotation is healthy. I think the Lakers will struggle to score (which has been a recurrent problem for them in the last few weeks, even against weaker competition), and that final margin will be within 10, but beyond this spread. Don't bet on LA here.

What's the most important matchup of tonight's contest?

Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert will be squaring off against eight-time All-Star Lakers center in the middle. Gobert looks absolutely revitalized, following a disappointing start in Minnesota last season coupled with a miserable run for Team France during this summer's FIBA World Cup. Davis, too, is playing at a borderline DPOY level thus far this season, though he gets a lot more offense cooking around the post than Gobert does, given that his scoring is mostly limited to dunks and putbacks.

What stat in the game is most worth tracking?

Long-limbed Los Angeles ranks second in the entire league in defensive rebounding at 35.3 per contest, just behind the Boston Celtics' 35.8. Minnesota is fourth at 34.8. Neither club is particularly prolific when it comes to sticking around for offensive boards on the other end, with the 27th-ranked Timberwolves' 9.6 rate just a hair above the 28th-ranked Lakers' 8.7. Minnesota boasts one of the best frontcourt rotations in the league between Gobert, Towns, and their backup Naz Reid. The battle of the boards will be critical for Los Angeles, especially if it manages to disrupt second-chances opportunities for the Wolves.