Top 3 first-round matchups for the Timberwolves

Los Angeles Lakers

Another veteran-filled team that has been riddled with injury and dysfunction within the organization. A team led by Lebron James and Anthony Davis is always enough to strike some fear in opponents, but this team is still largely a mystery.

You can never count out any team that rosters James, we saw that in last year's playoffs as a seemingly mediocre team squared up with the eventual champion, Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. So far this season, the Wolves lead the series 2-0 but have played both games too close for comfort.

Similarly to the Wolves, the Lakers have a very inconsistent offense. One that would likely struggle with the Wolves' elite half-court defense. They are not an elite 3-point shooting team, which would force them to play to the stifling Wolves' defensive strengths even more.

This would by no means be an easy series as the Wolves would need their offense to come to play, but the matchup favors the Wolves on paper. Let's not forget the Lakers defeated the Wolves in the play-in tournament last year, and have former Minnesota players in D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt.

The great matchup, along with the stakes and emotions running high make this a series the Timberwolves would welcome in round one.