2023 NBA playoffs: What happens if the Timberwolves lose to the Lakers in the Play-In?
The Minnesota Timberwolves take on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a crucial game for their aspirations. Check out here what happens if they lose in the Play-In Tournament.
The stakes will be high on Tuesday nightwhen the Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena. After a long regular season, it will all come down to this Play-In game to keep their playoff hopes alive.
It looks likea challenging task for the visitors, since the Purple and Gold havebeen a completely different team since the NBA trade deadline. Besides, they lost just two of their last 10 games.
With the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the other side, it’s safe to say the T’Wolves will need to have a great night in LA. However, even if things don’t go their way, Minnesota will still have another chance.
Advertisement
What happens if the Timberwolves lose to the Lakers in the 2023 NBA Play-in?
The TWolves finished just one place below the Lakers in the West, and now they will battle it out for the 7th seed. If Minnesota wins, it will set up a meeting with the 2nd seed Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.
On the other hand, if the Timberwolves lose to the Lakers, they will have to play against the winner of the Pelicans (#9) – Thunder (#10) matchup. The game for the #8 seed will take place on Friday, April 14 and the winner will take on the 1st seed Denver Nuggets in the first round.
Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of World Soccer Talk while continuing in his role as Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with Bolavip in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup and UEFA Champions League finals. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian soccer for Sambafoot. In May 2025, Martin became Managing Editor of Bolavip, where he leads the team, drives the website's growth, and oversees content focused on sports news, analysis, interviews, and exclusive coverage. In November 2026, he expanded his editorial responsibilities by joining World Soccer Talk as Managing Editor, bringing his extensive experience in sports journalism and editorial leadership to the role.
