Compared to other NBA teams, your Los Angeles Lakers have always had a little more success.
To start with, their advantage over the other team in free throws is, well, quite large. That will always exist and provide them with a small advantage, particularly at home.
Beyond that, though, LA might have won a play-in game the day before tipoff.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the reason for this is that Minnesota Timberwolves star center Rudy
Gobert—for whom the team traded five first-round draft picks, a pick swap option, and likely All-Rookie First Team
center Walker Kessler—who is essentially Gobert 2.0 already. Gobert is currently suspended by his own team and
will not travel with Minnesota for Tuesday’s play-in game against the Lakers.
We’ve known this was a possibility since Gobert was seen shoving teammate Kyle Anderson in the shoulder during a
heated altercation during yesterday’s 113-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Anderson was reportedly
screamed to by Gobert to get a “f—ing rebound.” “Shut the f— up, b—-,” Anderson shot back, and the 7’1″ three-
time Defensive Player of the Year began trading blows with his friend. Gobert was promptly sent home when they
parted ways. Even if he eventually expressed regret for his actions on Twitter, the harm had already been done.
An enraged Jaden McDaniels had earlier in the game broken his hand pounding a wall in desperation, thus
eliminating himself from the playoffs altogether.
Gobert, who had been playing through a sore back, was actually leading the Pelicans by double digits, 48–36, when
he was ejected from the arena. Without him, Minnesota came together.
