Here is what you need to know before the Lakers’ Christmas Day contest against
the Minnesota Timberwolves.
1) The Lakers are going for the Christmas record The Lakers playing on
Christmas has been an NBA tradition for 19 consecutive years, but it actually
goes back even further.
From Jerry West scoring 47 points in 1963 to Kobe Bryant playing in a
league-record 16 Christmas games, basketball fans are always in for a purple and
gold Christmas.
And in the franchise’s 43 total appearances on Christmas Day, the Lakers have
amassed 22 wins, tying New York for most in history.
The Knicks play the first game of the day against Philadelphia, and the Lakers
cap off the night against the Wolves.
If all goes L.A.’s way, it will head to Dec. 26 with the NBA’s most Christmas
Day wins ever.
THIS DAY IN KOBE HISTORY: December 25 2008: What better #NBAXmas gift could the
Lakers give their fans than snapping the hated Boston Celtics’ franchise-record
win streak? Boston entered the game with 19 consecutive victories, but the
Lakers treated a sold-out Staples Center to a 92-83 win over the team that beat
them in the previous NBA Finals. More #TDIKH on Lakers.com
A post shared by Los Angeles Lakers (@lakers) on Dec 25, 2015 at 7:52am PST
2) The Lakers hobble into this game potentially down three starters
Second-overall draft pick Lonzo Ball (shoulder sprain) and starting center Brook
Lopez (ankle sprain) are out. Brandon Ingram (quad contusion/tendinitis) is
questionable.
Luke Walton has quite the challenge on his plate.
Ball’s recent injury is a particularly tough obstacle for the Lakers, who have
come to rely on his ability to start fast-breaks, defend well and haul in
rebounds.
And to compound matters, the Lakers have lately used Ingram in significant
minutes at point guard, leaving even fewer options to run the offense if B.I.
can’t play.
The Lakers will likely need more playmaking out of second-unit point guard
Jordan Clarkson and increased minutes for the likes of Alex Caruso and Tyler
Ennis.
Meanwhile, to make up for the scoring of Lopez, Ball and (potentially) Ingram,
look for Clarkson, Kyle Kuzma and Julius Randle to get more shots up in this
battle.
Clarkson flies through the lane to tap in the rebound #LakeShow (: @SpectrumSN &
@spectdeportes) pic.twitter.com/nwiYy3B14L
3) The Wolves are stacked with firepower Jimmy Butler is averaging 31.3
points over his last three games, thanks to some hot shooting from the field and
a steady parade to the free throw line.
Karl-Anthony Towns leads the NBA in double-doubles (26 in 33 games), and Andrew
Wiggins averaged more points against the Lakers last year than any other player
(37.8).
Mix in Minnesota’s tendency to win the turnover battle (an Achilles heel of the
Lakers), and the Timberwolves are a tough opponent on a national stage.
The purple and gold will have to outshoot them on the other end, where Minnesota
allows the NBA’s highest opponent field goal percentage (48.2) and highest
percentage at the rim (68.6).
The Lakers — whose offense relies so much on drives to the basket — will try
to take advantage of this lack of paint protection, while also attempting to win
back points beyond the arc against the team that makes the NBA’s fewest
3-pointers (8.1).
Injury Report Lakers: Lonzo Ball (left shoulder sprain) and Brook Lopez (right
ankle sprain) are out. Brandon Ingram (right quad contusion, left quad
tendinitis) is questionable. Timberwolves: Nemanja Bjelica (sprained left
midfoot) is TBD.
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. PT TV: TNT Radio: 710 ESPN and 1330 KWKW Unis: White
Location: Staples Center — Los Angeles, California
Click here to view game notes for this contest.
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