The Los Angeles Lakers finished the regular season on a high note, while the Minnesota Timberwolves are mired in a punch-driven drama that will keep center Rudy Gobert out.
One of these teams will earn a playoff spot when the Lakers host the Timberwolves in a Western Conference play-in game on Tuesday night.
Update Injuries to key players for the Lakers and Timberwolves
The winner of this game will be the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and will face the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. The loser will face either the New Orleans Pelicans or the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 8 seed on Friday.
The Lakers are in a calm environment and dealing with a situation that did not appear to be very likely: key player injuries.
LeBron James (foot) is listed as probable for Tuesday’s play-in game against Minnesota, according to Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell.
After suffering a foot injury, James has been added to the injury report once more, but all indications point to the star forward playing.
King James finished the regular season with 30-plus points in three of his final four games and should be available for whatever minutes his team needs Tuesday evening.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Anthony Davis (foot) is expected to play in Tuesday’s Play-In game against the Timberwolves.
Despite the injury designation, Davis should be able to play in Tuesday’s crucial Play-In game against Minnesota.
The 30-year-old has played in 12 straight games, averaging 25.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.9 blocks in 35.8 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reports that D’Angelo Russell (foot) is expected to play against the Timberwolves.
The Lakers will never turn down the chance to assign a probable tag, but D’Lo should be fine for Tuesday’s play-in game. Check back closer to kickoff for an official update on his status.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are mired in a punch-driven drama that will keep Rudy Gobert out of the lineup.
The Wolves will be without rim protector Rudy Gobert, who was suspended after punching teammate Kyle Anderson in the chest during Sunday’s 113-108 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
On Monday, the Timberwolves flew to Los Angeles without Gobert, and they will try to defeat the Lakers without the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Minnesota will also be without forward Jaden McDaniels, who fractured his right hand on Sunday after punching a wall. McDaniels was cast and will remain on the show indefinitely.
Towns (calf) is also questionable for the game on Tuesday.
It would be shocking to see KAT miss Tuesday’s play-in game, and it’s worth noting that Minnesota listed Towns as questionable for the final six games of the season, despite the fact that he didn’t miss a single game.
