(SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of disappointing teams playing out the string collide Friday at Staples Center, as the Minnesota Timberwolves pay a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Timberwolves are in the hunt for a bevy of ping-pong balls for the lottery and have lost eight straight and 19 of the last 22 games.
Minnesota is 0-2 on a four-game road trip and so far has dropped matchups with Sacramento and Portland on the trek. In Wednesday's 116-91 setback to the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center, Rookie of the Year candidate Andrew Wiggins scored 29 points on just 9-of-22 shooting and made 11-of-15 free throws.
Zach LaVine and Kevin Martin had 18 and 17 points, respectively, and Chase Budinger rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points for the Timberwolves, who made 38 percent from the field and were outrebounded, 53-35. The Blazers also had a 42-15 advantage in bench points.
"We just try and compete. They are a great team," said Wiggins.
The Wolves are winless in their last four road games and have a 7-32 mark as the visitor this season. They will close the trek Saturday at Golden State.
Timberwolves veteran big man Kevin Garnett (knee) is questionable Friday and hasn't played since March 7.
Los Angeles is mired in a five-game slide and lost both road matchups against the Clippers and Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers suffered a 119-101 loss to the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on Wednesday, as Jordan Clarkson led the way with 21 points and handed out nine assists. The rookie is averaging 19.6 points and 6.3 assists in his last 10 games and was named Rookie of the Month for March.
Ryan Kelly scored 17 points, Ed Davis had 15 and 12 rebounds, and Dwight Buycks also scored 15 points in a losing cause. The Lakers shot well from the floor, making 48 percent of their shots, but the Nuggets scored 20 points off 15 turnovers and had a decisive 35-17 scoring advantage in the third quarter.
"I thought we got a little selfish doing things on our own," Lakers coach Byron Scott said of the third.
Denver had a 52-40 points in the paint and 45-39 rebounding advantage. It led by as many as 24 points and made 13-of-30 3-pointers. Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari scored 29 and 27 points, respectively, to lead the Nuggets.
Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (knee) did not play and is questionable Friday.
Los Angeles is 11-27 at home and will welcome Dallas to town Sunday.
The Lakers are 2-1 against the T-wolves this season and have prevailed in 25 of the last 29 matchups between the Western foes. Minnesota, which is 3-21 on the road against conference opponents, lost 22 straight in this series from 2007 to 2013.
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