The LA Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are playing on the NBA Summer League schedule and the game will be on TV from the NBTV channel on Friday night as Karl-Anthony Towns and Los Angeles guard D'Angelo Russell matchup in their professional debuts at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 p.m. PT in Las Vegas, putting the number 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft against each other. Check out the link below for ALL games on the schedule for the NBA Summer League.
Check here for the NBA Summer League schedule and live coverage for games for all teams participating.
The Lakers and Timberwolves both have young teams and that adds some intrigue to this game with the top two picks in the draft battling. Towns was taken number one and Russell went number two and those two players will have pressure on them to perform. The Lakers have a number of players looking to prove themselves and Russell comes in after signing his contract with the team before the game. Jordan Clarkson is looking to continue his strong rookie season into the summer league, while Julius Randle will get back to action for the first time since his injury.
The Lakers are likely going to go easy with Randle to start, but he has a ton of potential and the chance to contribute this season. The Lakers signed Lou Williams and traded for Roy Hibbert and they are looking for players to establish themselves this summer to get into camp and many to the season roster. Clarkson will be there after his strong first year and Robert Upshaw is coming in with a lot to prove to try and make it through.
Russell comes in after averaging nearly 20 points per game and five rebounds last season for Ohio State and he shot 44 percent from the field. Russell is extremely athletic and fast at point guard and Kobe Bryant is hoping he can come in and make an impact right away. The Lakers need him to be a hit after getting the number two overall pick, while the Wolves feel they have a star in Towns.
Last season Towns averaged 10 points and seven rebounds for the Kentucky Wildcats, but his stats don't tell the whole story. Towns was the best overall prospect in the draft and he also is a strong defensive presence and now he joins Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine in Minnesota. The Lakers have Randle, Larry Nance and Russell as some of the main players on their summer league roster, while Towns joins LaVine and Tyus Jones for the Wolves.
The Lakers were the fourth worst team in the league last season and they ended up with the second overall pick and that is why they hope Russell can blossom. The Wolves were the worst team in the league and got the top pick and getting Towns gives hopes for the future. The fans think so, as over 15,000 people came to watch the team scrimmage before they left for the Summer League.
Check here for the LA Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves live coverage.
