Lakers: Predictions for Week 7
Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns grabs a rebound in front of Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell during an Oct. 28 game at Staples Center.
With their Sunday night loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers have three wins in 20 tries, slotting the team in last place in the Western Conference.
They’ll play four games through Week 7, visiting the Toronto Raptors (12-9), Minnesota Timberwolves (8-11), San Antonio Spurs (17-4) and Houston Rockets (10-11).
Through six weeks of play, the Lakers are two wins behind the cumulative prediction of 5-15.
Monday at Toronto Raptors
The Lakers played the Raptors relatively well at Staples Center on Nov. 20, but 25 points from Kyle Lowry, including seven three-pointers, was too much to bear.
Though the Lakers got strong performances from Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell, it wasn’t enough to get the win.
Playing in Toronto, on the second night of a back-to-back, will be a challenge.
Prediction: Raptors
Wednesday at Minnesota Timberwolves
The Lakers seemed to have the Timberwolves on the ropes on opening night, but they allowed Minnesota to come back for the win. The Lakers’ season has been downhill since.
Top pick Karl-Anthony Towns has been an impressive rookie, but the bigger challenge may be second-year forward Andrew Wiggins.
The Timberwolves, currently losers of three straight, are inconsistent and vulnerable. The Lakers have a real shot to get this one, but their track record is too weak to pick them to win.
Prediction: Timberwolves
Friday at San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are the second-best team in the NBA, behind the 22-0 Golden State Warriors by just 4.5 games.
San Antonio gives up just 89.3 points a game, while scoring 99.3. The Lakers have less-favorable stats, yielding 105.7 but producing 96.5.
The combination of Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker should be too much for the Lakers to handle.
Prediction: Spurs
Sunday at Houston Rockets
Houston has also been uneven this season, but after three wins in a row, they’ve climbed into the top eight in the Western Conference.
Defensively, Houston is bad, giving up 107.3 points a night, but dealing with big-time-scorer James Harden will be a trick for Clarkson and the rest of the Lakers.
The Lakers could get through Week 7 with wins in Minnesota and Houston, but they’re more likely to go 0-4.
Prediction: Rockets
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus
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