Minnesota hosts Los Angeles, looks to stop home skid

Updated Dec. 16, 2021 3:22 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers (16-13, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-15, ninth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota is looking to end its three-game home slide with a victory against Los Angeles.

The Timberwolves are 9-9 against conference opponents. Minnesota is 7-11 against opponents with a winning record.

The Lakers have gone 8-9 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles ranks fifth in the Western Conference shooting 35.8% from 3-point range.

The teams play for the second time this season. The Timberwolves won the last matchup on Nov. 13. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points points to help lead the Timberwolves to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Edwards is shooting 36.0% from beyond the arc with 3.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Timberwolves, while averaging 22.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals. Towns is averaging 27.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists over the past 10 games for Minnesota.

Anthony Davis is scoring 23.8 points per game and averaging 10.2 rebounds for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 29.1 points and 6.8 rebounds over the last 10 games for Los Angeles.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 4-6, averaging 110.8 points, 43.7 rebounds, 22.0 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.4 points per game.

Lakers: 7-3, averaging 114.4 points, 46.8 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 9.0 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: None listed.

Lakers: Talen Horton-Tucker: out (health and safety protocols), Dwight Howard: out (health and safety protocols), Trevor Ariza: out (ankle), Kendrick Nunn: out (knee).

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