The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into arguably the most important remaining game of the 2022-23 regular season on Friday night. Los Angeles is on the road to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are half a game ahead of the Lakers in the Western Conference.
A win over the Timberwolves would not only keep the door open for the Lakers to elevate above the Play-In Tournament but would put the team in a great position to at least get a seventh or eighth seed in the West.
The difference between being the seventh or eighth seed instead of the ninth or tenth seed is absolutely massive as LA would get two chances to get in instead of having to win two in a row. The Lakers need to be the best version of themselves tonight, but will they? Will they have all of their reinforcements? Let’s break it down.
Updated LeBron James injury status vs Timberwolves:
LeBron James is back on the injury report but it should not be a cause of concern for fans. LeBron is listed as questionable on the injury report.
This is simply precautionary by the Lakers and barring any last-minute setbacks right before tip-off, LeBron should be good to play. He is likely going to be listed on every injury report from here on out and in the very important games, like tonight’s game vs Minnesota, he will suit up.
Full Lakers injury report vs Timberwolves:
Anthony Davis is also listed on the Lakers injury report but like LeBron, it is nothing to really worry about. Davis has been on the injury report every game since he returned from the foot injury that held him out of action for over a month.
Davis is listed as probable and it would be a true shocker if he did not play in this game. Mo Bamba remains out with his ankle sprain that is set to be evaluated next week. D’Angelo Russell has been removed from the injury report after missing a game with a hip injury and being on the report last game vs the Bulls.
Full Timberwolves injury report vs Lakers:
Center Naz Reid is out against the Lakers with a wrist injury that is expected to keep him out for a significant period of time. Jaylen Nowell is questionable with a knee injury and Karl-Anthony Towns is listed as probable as he continues his return to speed from his calf injury.
The Timberwolves seem to have an illness breaking out in the locker room as Anthony Edwards, Kyle Anderson, Taurean Prince, Austin Rivers and Matt Ryan are all on the injury report with an illness. Ryan is the only player confirmed to be out.
Head coach Chris Finch described the illness as “intestinal flu”. Hopefully, Minnesota doesn’t pass this along to the Lakers when they play on Friday.