The Minnesota Timberwolves, despite some recent struggles and injuries, would love nothing more than to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Though each team has a slightly new roster, the Timberwolves beat the Lakers 4-1 when the two sides matched up last season in the first round, and would expect to do the same this year.
Currently, Minnesota is slated to play the Denver Nuggets, but based on new injury updates and potential playoff scenarios, another date against Los Angeles could very well happen.
Timberwolves Playoff Scenarios Look Great Based On Latest Lakers News
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 27: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts as he guards LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 111-102 Lakers win at Crypto.com Arena on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
With a Lakers win over the Utah Jazz and Nuggets loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Timberwolves would get their dream playoff outcome and expect to have a greater chance at advancing in the postseason based on who they’d play first.
There are a few reasons why, while that matchup isn’t what is currently slated, it could end up being the first-round outcome.
For one, the Nuggets look to be sitting a majority of their key players for the regular-season finale. Nikola Jokic is questionable, but even if he does play against a strong Spurs team, he is only expected to play enough to qualify for end-of-season awards. Denver would prefer to play the Houston Rockets over the Timberwolves, meaning they could easily lose and see the Lakers jump them in the standings and playoff seeding.
QUESTIONABLE: Nikola Jokić (Right Wrist Injury Management)
OUT: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Left Knee Soreness) Jamal Murray (Right Shoulder Impingement) Aaron Gordon (Right Hamstring Injury Management) Cam Johnson (Right Ankle
Additionally, while the Lakers will be without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, while LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes are both questionable, a win against the Jazz likely won’t be that difficult. If the Lakers win and the Nuggets lose, the two teams would swap in the standings, and Minnesota would play whoever ends up on top.
At this point, it looks as though both teams are eyeing a first-round series against the Rockets rather than the Timberwolves, and while either team would still be a tough matchup for Minnesota, playing the Lakers feels like a more favorable outcome for them.
Timberwolves Injury Report For Regular-Season Finale
GettyJulius Randle, Anthony Edwards, and Rudy Gobert during Game 4 of the West Semifinals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors on May 12, 2025.
The Timberwolves are locked in to the sixth seed for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, meaning they have the chance to sit some of their key players for their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, as the outcome of the game won’t change anything in the standings.
Minnesota currently has a majority of its key contributors set to miss the final game of the regular season.
Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley, Ayo Dosunmu, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Kyle Anderson, Bones Hyland, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid all have been ruled out for Sunday, either with an illness, injury management, or another (expectedly minor) health concern.
Still, what remains most important for the Timberwolves is the Lakers beating the Jazz and the Nuggets losing to the Spurs.
It remains to be seen what will happen in both of those games, but if things go according to plan for Minnesota, it’s great news for the team up North, as they’ll get their favorable first-round series against the Lakers.
“I’m sure everybody wants to play us,” head coach JJ Redick said on Friday about the Lakers in the playoffs. “Let’s get that out there, like, everybody wants to play us.”
That appears to be true, especially for the Timberwolves right now.
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