MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves will start the season on the road for the second straight year, after opening at home for 13 consecutive seasons before that.

They’ll visit the Los Angeles Lakers Oct. 28, pitting the top two picks in the draft against each other with Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and Lakers guard DeAngelo Russell. That’s one of 12 games currently scheduled for national television, including four on ESPN.

The Wolves play once more away before their home opener Nov. 2 against Portland. Other dates of note at Target Center are a Jan. 8 game against Cleveland and Nov. 12 and March 21 visits by defending NBA champion Golden State.

The Wolves have only three Friday night home games, but they have eight on Saturday nights and four on Sunday afternoons.