The Minnesota Timberwolves sit at 2–2 and are still searching for rhythm after an inconsistent start. They opened with a gritty win in Portland but quickly lost momentum when the Lakers handed them a convincing defeat a few nights later. Minnesota responded with a home victory over the Pacers, although that came with a major setback as Anthony Edwards suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out until mid-November. His absence was immediately felt in the loss to Denver, where the Timberwolves lacked a go-to scorer late in the game.

Despite the defeat, there were a few encouraging performances. Jaden McDaniels stepped up with 25 points, Julius Randle added 24 and Naz Reid continued to give the bench a lift. However, Minnesota was clearly outworked in key areas. They struggled on the glass, failed to protect the paint and never controlled the tempo. Rudy Gobert could not slow Nikola Jokic, who dictated the matchup and exposed the Wolves’ defensive gaps without Edwards on the perimeter.

The Lakers also enter at 2–2, but their situation is very different. When fully healthy, they’ve already shown they can compete at a high level, including a dominant earlier win over Minnesota. Since then, the roster has been stretched thin with both LeBron James and Luka Dončić sidelined. Austin Reaves has taken on a massive share of the offensive workload and even exploded for 51 points in Sacramento, but he has had limited help around him.

With their two primary shot creators unavailable, Los Angeles struggles to stay efficient. Perimeter shooting has cooled off significantly and the turnovers have piled up, including 23 giveaways in the loss to Portland. With fewer possessions to work with and no elite playmaker to steady the offense, the Lakers often fall into scoring droughts they can’t escape.

This rematch turns into a test of depth. The Timberwolves can still rely on multiple contributors even without their star guard, while the Lakers are being forced to lean on role players who are normally spot options instead of nightly threats. Minnesota’s priority will be fixing its rebounding and tightening its interior defense, both of which cost them heavily against the Nuggets. If they take care of those details, their bench depth should come through.

For Los Angeles, staying in this game will require much cleaner execution. They need to protect the ball, generate easier looks for Reaves and avoid stretches where the offense stalls completely. If those problems persist, the Timberwolves are positioned to take advantage.

Minnesota also carries the added motivation of payback after being outplayed in the previous meeting. With the Lakers missing both James and Dončić, this matchup tilts in the Wolves’ favor as long as they can bring energy and discipline on both ends of the floor. They may not have their star scorer available, but they still look like the deeper and better balanced team heading into this one.