If you want to take an optimistic conclusion from Friday’s loss to the Lakers, it would be that they were far more competitive than their last trip to Minnesota. However, moral victories mean nothing in the NBA, and the Lakers still went home with a loss, falling to the Wolves 97-87.

It was a strange game that never felt like it had much rhythm or flow. It looked like two teams had just taken an extended break in the middle of the season. It also looked like one team was really good and another that wasn’t.

The Lakers have some issues that have been prevalent in recent weeks. But as long as they’re injured and not at 100%, they won’t know exactly what solutions they have on the roster and what they still need answers to.

So let’s dive into loss. As always, grades are based on each player’s expectations. The grade “B” represents the average performance of that player.

Max Christie

37 minutes, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 5-9 FG, 2-3 3PT, 3-3 FT, -4

The Lakers didn’t have many guys who looked good offensively on Friday, but Christie was one of them. Between his good shooting, his aggressiveness attacking the rim and his reads, it was a great night for him.

He also had a difficult job on defense, often guarding Anthony Edwards. While Ant missed part of the second half due to injury, he was also only 9:20 from the field.

Grade: A-

Rui Hachimura

39 minutes, 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4-13 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, -18

After head coach JJ Redick praised him as one of the most consistent players who carried out his coaches’ instructions, Rui responded with top play.

In addition to an all-around poor shooting night, his inability to hold onto a rebound late really hurt and will probably be the most remembered from this game. He also had mixed results defensively against Julius Randle.

Grade: D+

Anthony Davis

36 minutes, 23 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 10-21 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-5 FT, -22

With LeBron James out, the Lakers really needed a big AD game. He didn’t answer at all.

If you just look at the box score you can see a double-double, but he had some really difficult plays that night. His four turnovers included some incredibly frustrating ones as he continues to make mental errors that prove very costly.

He also just never got going offensively. He had chances and opportunities but couldn’t deliver on them. For a player of his caliber, AD has to be better.

Grade: C-

Gabe Vincent

25 minutes, 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2-7 FG, 2-4 3PT, -5

It’s nice that Vincent is no longer unplayably bad, which will certainly increase his trade value in a few days.

All joking aside, he has been a useful substitute in recent weeks. However, the Lakers need more than that from someone who earns his salary. You also need more of it from someone starting out, but that’s more of a Redick issue that we’ll get into later.

Overall, six points on seven shots is not enough.

Grade: C

Austin Reaves

30 minutes, 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 6-16 FG, 4-8 3PT, 2-2 FT, -2

Reaves seemed both like someone the Lakers sorely missed and someone who hadn’t played basketball in several weeks.

Overall he had a good game, but it took a while to find his footing. If anyone deserves some leeway, it’s the guy who just returned from a back injury after a two-week layoff.

Grade: B+

D’Angelo Russell

20 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2-10 FG, 1-7 3PT, -8

Just a real disaster for D’Lo. He got three fouls very quickly and had to sit on the bench for most of the first half.

Then he looked like someone out of rhythm as he missed shot after shot that night. His 3-pointer from the logo at the end of the third quarter looked like someone didn’t know how much time was on the game clock.

Then most will remember his two late chances on open 3-pointers to give the Lakers a lifeline, and both missed badly.

Again, the Lakers needed guys like D’Lo and AD to have big nights, and the former didn’t deliver at all.

Grade: F

Dalton Knecht

19 minutes, 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-4 FT, -7

The rookie wall kicks Knecht’s ass. He’s struggling on offense to stop shots he took earlier in the season. And if he doesn’t score, it will be difficult to keep him on the field defensively.

The rebounding is nice, but not enough to get him big minutes. Redick could improve the situation with a few more plays for Knecht, but he also needs to play at a level that is worth demanding more plays for him.

Grade: C-

Cam Reddish

23 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-1 FT, +4

There’s not much to say about Reddish at this point. It’s about beating a dead horse. He is a deeply flawed player who is getting minutes because of the Lakers’ injury.

Grade: C

Christian Koloko

12 minutes, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 blocks, +12

Would it be an exaggeration to call Koloko the brightest spot of the night for the Lakers? He was great in his limited minutes and perhaps should have played more. Regardless, he gained some confidence on Friday.

Grade: A+

JJ Redick

I’m willing to give Redick a little leeway on certain things since he’s a first-year coach trying to figure things out. However, in some of these lineups we have gone well beyond the point of plausible deniability.

His starting lineup in the last two games has been terrible. It puts the Lakers in a big hole right from the start. It doesn’t work offensively, it sets a bad tone, and it shouldn’t be a lineup that even knows the word, let alone starts games.

If LeBron doesn’t play on Sunday, the lineup can’t stay the same.

Degree; D-

DNPs from Friday: Maxwell Lewis, Quincy Olivari, Armel Traore

Inactive on Friday: Jaxson Hayes, Jalen Hood-Schifino, LeBron James, Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.