The Lakers will have two very interesting matchups during the week of the NBA Cup knockout games as they’re set to play the Wolves and Grizzlies.
After having such a nice time there earlier this week, the Lakers will soon be returning to Minnesota.
With the NBA Cup group play wrapping up on Tuesday, the Lakers now know the final pieces of their schedule.
While teams who advanced to the knockout rounds play for a spot in Las Vegas the week of Dec. 9, the Lakers and the rest of the NBA will be playing regular season games.
The league announced those games on Tuesday night. The Lakers will travel to Minnesota on Dec. 13 before returning home on Dec. 15 to take on Memphis.
NBA schedule update ⬇️
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 4, 2024
The 22 teams that did not qualify for the Quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup have been assigned two regular-season games that will be played on Dec. 12 or 13 and Dec. 15 or 16. pic.twitter.com/o9hdY52LFP
While it’s not two particularly forgiving games, it will be a forgiving week for the Lakers. The Lakers will wrap up their current road trip in Atlanta on Sunday, Dec. 6, before playing the Blazers at home on Dec. 8.
They will then be off throughout the week before playing in Minnesota that Friday. They again return home on Sunday, Dec. 13 to play the Grizzlies before having another stretch of games off, not returning to the court until Thursday, Dec. 19 in Sacramento.
So, for those keeping track at home, from Dec. 9 through Dec. 18, a span of 10 days, the Lakers play two games.
It’ll be a welcome rest for the Lakers, who looked awful tired and beaten up in their stop in Minnesota on Monday. The break will offer them a chance to rest up and get healthy before an important stretch of games.
Last season, that stretch derailed the team’s season. This time around, the Lakers should be in a much better position physically to take advantage of that stretch.
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