Timberwolves take on LA Lakers shorthanded in Game 4

The Minnesota Timberwolves (3-0) will face one helluva test in their fourth preseason game. While the Timberwolves sit their biggest guns, playing without their new center Rudy Gobert, power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, forward Taurean Prince, and many more, the LA Lakers are not about to forego the opportunity to get their starting five onto the court.

In short, the Timberwolves will face a tough Lakers lineup, which at game time was hinted at being the Lakers’ starting five in the season opener:

So who will the Timberwolves play? Well, they will go with their projected starting backcourt. But the team will sorely miss both Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns in this one:

The Minnesota Timberwolves opened the game falling behind by seven points and then by six points. But a ten-point run fueled by a D’Angelo Russell three-pointer, a field goal by Naz Reid, a three-pointer by Anthony Edward, and another two-pointer by Naz Reid has the Timberwolves into the lead.

So far, Naz Reid is showing up huge in the early minutes. Not only does Reid have seven points in the early going, but he has three rebounds as well.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are displaying an almost positionless five, as the Timberwolves seem to rely upon everyone to bring the basketball up, and the team is clearly using anyone and everyone on the court to pass to the open shooter.  With just under six minutes to go in the first quarter, the Timberwolves have four assists, but no player has more than one in this one.

The Timberwolves and the Lakers remain toe-to-toe in this one.

And the end of the first quarter