Lakers vs. Timberwolves game preview: Howling at the moon

The Los Angeles Lakers are going Black Friday shopping with the Minnesota Timberwolves, hoping to pick up their fourth win of the season on an amazing discount. Lakers fans will have a chance to see No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins in action, who's had a great rookie campaign and suddenly finds himself thrust into the starting lineup following Kevin Martin's injury.

The Timberwolves have been a bottom team through the first month of the season, but that was expected. Minnesota is rebuilding after the departure of Kevin Love, but they managed to get the kind of haul teams usually only dream of when it's time to part ways with a franchise player. Nabbing Wiggins, along with a chance to develop and mold Anthony Bennett, and even get a veteran like Thaddeus Young, is a great package for the destined-to-leave Love. It hasn't amounted to many wins just yet, but they're building a foundation.

Injuries have certainly hurt Minnesota's chances this year, though. Ricky Rubio sprained his ankle and Martin is otu after undergoing surgery on his wrist. Big man Nikola Pekovic has also been ruled out of the game tonight with a sore wrist. Put it all together and this looks like a very winnable game for the Lakers.

But "winnable" games don't matter much right now. The Lakers have a great deal of improvement to show before wins begin to matter, which isn't something that will happen overnight. Going in and taking care of business against an undermanned and under-talented Timberwolves team would be nice, though. Facing a team in the same "tier" provides a great opportunity for the Lakers to perform on both ends of the floor and work out some of the X's and O's problems they clearly have.

Either way, a chance to see Wiggins in action, along with a pretty good opportunity to win, should make for a nice Thanksgiving leftover feast for Lakers fans. Enjoy the game.

Time: 7:30 p.m. PT

Station: TWCSN