Lakers’ road trip continues with visit to Minnesota Timberwolves

The Lakers (3-18) will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (8-12) on Wednesday night, their sixth stop on an eight-game road trip. Los Angeles has lost three in a row and sits at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

The Timberwolves have been competitive for much of the early season, although they’ve lost four straight, dipping to 10th place in the West.

On opening night, the Lakers seemed to have the Wolves’ number, taking an early double-digit lead. Minnesota came back to get the win on the road, and the season has gone south ever since for the Lakers.

Coach Byron Scott will stick with the same starting lineup with Larry Nance Jr. and Lou Williams bumping Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell to the bench.

Minnesota is healthy, outside of center Nikola Pekovic (Achilles). The Lakers have an empty injury list, a change from last year’s endless stream — although the win-loss record has not shown a corresponding improvement.

Key matchup

Forward/guard Andrew Wiggins started the season slowly, but he’s since climbed to 21.1 points a game to lead the Wolves.

Wiggins can score, but he’s also a capable defender. He’ll likely draw Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant, who also has shown signs of improvement over the past week.

Bryant is scoring 16.2 points a night while shooting just 30.6% from the field and 21.9% from three-point range, but he hit half of his 16 shots while scoring 21 points on Monday in a loss to the Toronto Raptors. He also reached a season high of 31 points last Wednesday against the Washington Wizards.

Then again, Bryant shot just two for 15 on Sunday for five points against the Detroit Pistons, although he was fighting through a stomach ailment.

While Bryant is hit or miss, it’s been mostly a miss this year. Wiggins won’t be an easy matchup.

X-factor

Center Karl-Anthony Towns has looked very good this season, averaging 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds a game, while shooting 52.8% from the field and 46.7% from behind the three-point line. He also hits free throws at an 82.4% clip.

Zach LaVine also has improved in his second season with the Timberwolves.

On opening night, Ricky Rubio was the difference, scoring a season-high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting — but he’s averaging just 10.4 points a game this year with 8.4 assists.

Both Nance and Williams need to justify Scott’s promotions. Nance has shown a natural feel defensively and is an explosive leaper, but he is still looking to find his footing in the NBA. Williams is a scorer through and through, although he’s shooting just 37.6% from the field this season.

Outlook

The Lakers should be competitive against the Wolves, but wins are so sparse, the safer pick is on Minnesota ending its four-game losing streak.

Email Eric Pincus at Pincus at Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.comfollow him on Twitter @EricPincus.