Lakers get blown out of gym by Timberwolves: The good, bad and story

Nov 12, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell (0) moves the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Kent Bazemore (9) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell (0) moves the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Kent Bazemore (9) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers were trying to accomplish two things against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. The first thing on the list was to increase their winning streak to three games and the second thing on the list was to stay out of overtime trying to accomplish the first thing.

Confused? Not as much as the Lake Show Life staff trying to keep up with the current M.A.S.H list of players that are hurt on this roster.

  • LeBron James: Day-to-day with an ab injury but is close to resuming on-court basketball activities.
  • Kendrick Nunn: Knee bruise. Still out indefinitely.
  • Talen Horton-Tucker: Finger surgery but he is currently working on-court drills.
  • Trevor Ariza: Ankle surgery.

Rajon Rondo had just come off this list with ankle and hamstring injuries only for Austin Reaves to replace him on the list of the walking wounded.

The Lakers announced that Austin Reaves strained his hamstring and will be out at least two weeks before he is re-evaluated.

Well if hurt feelings don’t count on the NBA’s injured list, the Los Angeles Lakers got booed off the Staples Center floor after getting smoked by the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-83. If you thought the Portland Trail Blazers game was bad, it looked like NBA Finals level quality compared to this.

  • There could be a discussion about the bad field goal shooting…35.4 percent.
  • There could be a discussion about the bad 3 point shooting…22 percent.
  • There could be a discussion about being dominated on the backboards…54-44.
  • There could be a discussion about the turnovers…19.

But why?

The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:

Those Los Angeles Lakers uniforms!

To all those day one readers that have read these post-game reports and Lake Show Life Lessons articles the last three seasons going into this season…

Anybody want to buy a Lakers jersey for this writer? A Malik Monk one XXXL size will suffice!

The NBA and shoe companies have overdone it with constant releases of jerseys over the last few years to pick up some extra change, but this version is a slam dunk. These jerseys are a must-have for collectors.

Anthony Davis did not stink!

This is a powerful statement considering what happened in the second half. Games like these have to give AD some of those New Orleans Pelicans flashbacks.

Anthony Davis had 22 points (16 in the first half!) 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals. Well, the rest of his teammates did not match his quality of play to be kind.

That huge first-quarter run to take the lead in the first quarter!

There have been times during the season that the Lakers have come out and put things on cruise control. This game was not one of them. The Lake Show really turned up the defensive pressure and blew past Minnesota with a huge 22-4 run.

Things really started rolling at the point when Vogel put his bench players in featuring Malik Monk, Rajon Rondo (Yes, the staff was surprised too!)…

and Dwight Howard, who scored 9 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while giving the fans something to cheer in the fourth quarter by knocking down a 3 pointer.

The game ended.

Nuff said. It doesn’t matter if you like LeBron James or not, this is a mediocre team without him.