The Lakers have opened their scheduled on a dismal four-game losing streak, capped by a 110-99 loss in Denver on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves are coming off a decisive 134-122 over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, but have yet to tally consecutive victories during a middling 3-2 straight up start.

The Timberwolves look to Friday’s contest as strengthening 8.5-point favourites. The total has also been on the rise, climbing to 227.5 after opening at 226.

Lakers vs. Timberwolves NBA Betting Odds

Friday night’s matchup at Target Center marks the first of three regular season meetings between these Western Conference rivals. The T-Wolves took three of four from Los Angeles last season while going a perfect 4-0 against the spread to snap a four-game losing streak in head-to-head action. Minnesota has also dominated the Lakers in clashes on home hardwood, winning outright in nine of 10 since 2015. With the Lakers averaging just 96.8 points per game in four dates with Minnesota last season, the UNDER now enjoys a 4-0-0 run, and has gone 9-2-0 over their past 11 clashes.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers’ early-season woes deepened with Wednesday’s loss to the Nuggets. LA managed to keep things close in the first half, and took a hard earned 54-54 tie to the room at the break. However, they simply could not keep pace after recess as the Nuggets attack embarked on an impressive 29-11 run in the third quarter that sealed the win. With Wednesday’s defeat, the Lakers have now failed to reach the century mark in two of their first four outings. The club has have averaged a league-low 102.3 points per game during their winless start and also enter the weekend on a 0-4-0 against the spread run. Injuries have emerged as a massive concern early on. Russell Westbrook missed Wednesday’s contest with a hamstring injury, and is listed as questionable for Friday. Anthony Davis posted double-doubles in each of his past two outings despite being hampered by tightness in his back that also leaves his status in doubt for Friday. In addition, LeBron James has also been dealing with a foot injury suffered in Sunday’s heartbreaking 106-104 loss to Portland, but remains probable for Friday’s matchup.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves came out flat in the first date of this week’s two-game home set with the Spurs, which ended in a 115-106 loss. However, they atoned for that performance in Wednesday’s rematch, storming to an early double-digit lead while scoring 39 in the first quarter on their way to an impressive 134-122 win. After converting under 45% of field goal attempts three times in their first four outings, the T-Wolves found the target with regularity on Thursday, hitting 65.0% of field goals and 58.8% of three-pointers. Overall, Minnesota has now scored 130 or more points in eight of their past 24 contests, dating back to last March, and Wednesday’s offensive outburst has lifted them to seventh overall in team scoring with 117.4 points per game. Anthony Edwards powered the offence on Wednesday with 34 points and nine assists, and has now scored 30 or more in three of five outings this season. Edwards has also produced against the beleaguered Lakers, scoring 27 or more points in three of his past five appearances versus Los Angeles.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Timberwolves?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 28.91
Assists	LeBron James 6.82
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.54
FG%	Davon Reed 75
Steals	Jarred Vanderbilt 1.15
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.04

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 24.63
Assists	Mike Conley 5
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 11.63
FG%	Rudy Gobert 65.9
Steals	Anthony Edwards 1.58
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 1.36

LAL

Points	LeBron James 24.5
Assists	LeBron James 6.5
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 14.06
FG%	Rui Hachimura 55.7
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.38
Blocks	Anthony Davis 3.13

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 31.6
Assists	Mike Conley 6.4
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 12.2
FG%	Rudy Gobert 63
Steals	Josh Minott 2
Blocks	Anthony Edwards 2

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Timberwolves Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 28.91
Assists	LeBron James 6.82
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.54
FG%	Davon Reed 75
Steals	Jarred Vanderbilt 1.15
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.04

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 24.63
Assists	Mike Conley 5
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 11.63
FG%	Rudy Gobert 65.9
Steals	Anthony Edwards 1.58
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 1.36

LAL

Points	LeBron James 24.5
Assists	LeBron James 6.5
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 14.06
FG%	Rui Hachimura 55.7
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.38
Blocks	Anthony Davis 3.13

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 31.6
Assists	Mike Conley 6.4
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 12.2
FG%	Rudy Gobert 63
Steals	Josh Minott 2
Blocks	Anthony Edwards 2

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Mon Foot - 21 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sat Foot - 19 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Thurs Foot - 17 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 15 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Fri Foot - 11 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Wed Foot - 09 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Mon Foot - 07 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sat Foot - 05 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Thurs Foot - 03 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 05 / 23

Minnesota

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 24 / 04 / 23

Kyle Anderson (SF)

Out Tues Eye - 24 / 04 / 23

Josh Minott (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 22 / 04 / 23

Josh Minott (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 21 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Fri Knee - 20 / 04 / 23

Rudy Gobert (C)

Prob Fri Back - 20 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 18 / 04 / 23

Rudy Gobert (C)

Prob Wed Back - 18 / 04 / 23

Jaylen Nowell (SG)

Ques Sun Knee - 15 / 04 / 23

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Mon	Foot - 21 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Davis is nursing a right foot stress injury, but it is not expected to impact his status versus the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 19 / 05 / 23	2-1	2-1	+ -
Davis is tending to a right foot stress injury, but he is predicted to be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Thurs	Foot - 17 / 05 / 23	3-1	3-1	+ -
Davis is managing a right foot stress injury, but he is expected to dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 15 / 05 / 23	3-1	3-1	+ -
Davis is managing a right foot stress injury, but he is expected to dress for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Fri	Foot - 11 / 05 / 23	4-2	4-2	+ -
Davis is tending to a right foot stress injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Wed	Foot - 09 / 05 / 23	5-2	4-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is projected that that he will dress for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Mon	Foot - 07 / 05 / 23	5-3	5-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is projected that that he will dress for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 05 / 05 / 23	6-3	6-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but he is forecasted to be available versus the Warriors in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Thurs	Foot - 03 / 05 / 23	7-3	6-4	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 01 / 05 / 23	7-3	6-4	+ -
Davis is nursing a right foot stress injury, but it is not expected to impact his availability for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors.

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 24 / 04 / 23	1-1	1-0-1	+ -
Nowell is dealing with left knee tendinopathy, but it is not expected to impact his availability versus the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Kyle Anderson (SF)	Out Tues	Eye - 24 / 04 / 23	1-1	1-0-1	+ -
Anderson is nursing an eye injury, and he will not dress for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Josh Minott (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 22 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Minott is hindered by a left ankle sprain, but it is expected that he will partake in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 22 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Nowell has tendinopathy in his left knee, but it is likely that he will lace up for Game 4 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Josh Minott (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 21 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-0-1	+ -
Minott is hindered by a left ankle sprain, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Fri	Knee - 20 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell has tendinopathy in his left knee, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.
Rudy Gobert (C)	Prob Fri	Back - 20 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Gobert is dealing with back spams, but it is anticipated that he will face the Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell is tending to left knee tendinopathy, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Rudy Gobert (C)	Prob Wed	Back - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Gobert is dealing with back spams, but he is expected to face the Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round.
Jaylen Nowell (SG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 15 / 04 / 23	1-3	2-1-1	+ -
Nowell is tending to left knee tendinopathy, and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Nuggets.