The Los Angeles Lakers are set for their season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night and the TV coverage for the game is on ESPN and streaming coverage is live on the WatchESPN website. The game starts at 10:30 pm ET and the starting lineup has D'Angelo Russell, Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Roy Hibbert for LA.
The Lakers have Kobe Bryant ready to start on Wednesday night against the Timberwolves and it comes after Bryant injured his leg in the preseason. Bryant likely will not play a full slate of minutes and he could be limited for Byron Scott as he tries to manage how much Bryant gets used early in the season. Bryant has dealt with serious injuries the past couple years and he is looking to stay healthy for the duration this season.
Bryant played in 35 games last year and averaged 25 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists and he was able to participate in a full practice leading into the opener. D'Angelo Russell has been confirmed as the starter at point guard for the Lakers against the Wolves and that puts the number two pick up against number one pick Karl-Anthony Towns for the Timberwolves.
Russell was expected to start for the Lakers and head coach Byron Scott confirmed on Wednesday that the rookie will be in the starting lineup. Scott said that Jordan Clarkson will also handle the ball against the Wolves and that both players could see time at point guard/shooting guard over the first stretch of games this season. Russell, Bryant, Clarkson, Roy Hibbert and Julius Randle will be the opening night starters for the Lakers.
The Lakers schedule starts with the Timberwolves on Wednesday before a road game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. The team continues with the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets at home at the Staples Center and then the team will go on an east coast roadie. The Lakers will visit the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, November 6 and then the team will play against the NY Knicks on the road on Sunday at MSG.
The schedule heads south with the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic for the first back to back of the season and that likely means that Kobe Bryant will be out for one of those games. The team heads back towards home with a stop in Dallas against the Mavericks and then the team will be home against the Detroit Pistons. The team has the Suns on the road after that before coming home to host the Toronto Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers finish the month with a road game against the Warriors, a road game against the Blazers and then a home game against the Pacers.
