Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction, NBA Odds

Edgar Chaput | Updated Dec 12, 2024

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves

The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves will try to get back on track when they meet on the hardwood floor on Friday night.

L.A. Lakers
32-20
AT
December 13, 2024, 8:00 PM ET
Target Center
Minnesota
30-25
Pointspread +8.5 -110
Moneyline +280
Over / Under o +213.5
Pointspread -8.5 -110
Moneyline -350
Over / Under u +213.5

Neither the Lakers nor Timberwolves have been consistent this season. Their up-and-down ways have them currently sitting in eighth and ninth in the Western Conference. The NBA Cup knockout round matches midweek have allowed both to rest and refocus. Speaking of rest, word has it that LeBron James is unlikely to play Friday (foot soreness).

To that effect, the Timberwolves are currently pegged as -7.5 favourites on our NBA odds.

Lakers vs. Timberwolves NBA Betting Odds

Even though it’s not even Christmas, Friday is already the third time this season that the Lakers and Timberwolves have engaged in battle. They opened their seasons against each other on Oct. 22, with L.A. winning 110-103 at home. Then, on Dec. 2, the Wolves exacted a measure of vengeance with an easy-peasy 109-80 victory on their court. Through the 2024 calendar year, it’s all even 2-2.

It’s hard to determine if the Lakers are doing better, worse, or just as expected. LeBron can’t be the most dominant player on the court every night, not at 39 years old (soon to be 40). Anthony Davis is having a good campaign (27.5 points per game, 11.2 rebounds), but he doesn’t always have the killer shark attitude. Lakers fans are reckoning with the reality that the rest of the roster is fine but nothing incredible. L.A. is a disappointing 10-14 ATS and isn’t a good road team, given the 5-6 straight-up tally.

The conversation surrounding Minnesota is more straightforward. After being an incredible defensive side for a couple of years and playing the Western Conference Finals last May, their 12-11 record (9-14 ATS) is massively disappointing. The defence is still good (107.0 points against, fourth-best in the NBA) but the trade to acquire Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo is not paying dividends on the offensive side. Minnesota is only 20th league-wide by scoring 110.5 points a game.

Los Angeles Lakers

There is some more injury news to take note of. Austin Reaves is listed as Out due to a pelvis injury. He did not practice on Wednesday. Look for Dalton Knecht to fill those shoes.

Looking at the past two weeks of action, it’s understandable why some might argue that the sky is falling on the Lakers. JJ Reddick’s group is 2-4 in its last six matches, with victories earned against bottom dwellers the Portland Trail Blazers (107-98 on Dec. 8) and the Utah Jazz (105-104 on Dec. 1). The defeats came against the Oklahoma City Thunder (101-93), Minnesota Timberwolves (109-80), Atlanta Hawks (134-132), and Miami Heat (134-93). That’s right, L.A. gave up 134 points twice in a row. Also, those are all decent-to-great clubs.

Now there is talk in the media of LeBron possibly joining the Golden State Warriors. We’ll let the parties concerned decide whether there is actual validity to that or not. If anything, the person who faces the sternest test through this stretch of the campaign is Reddick. His hiring raised eyebrows for legitimate reasons. Now’s the time to try to right the ship.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Maybe Anthony Edwards should criticize his teammates more often. After letting it be known in the media that he felt the club was “soft” after a loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 28, the Wolves went on a four-game winning streak that ended last Sunday on the second of a “baseball series” versus the Warriors.

The word on the street is that the Randle trade is not working. It feels a bit early to make such bold statements. He is having his worst scoring season since 2021-22 with the Knicks (20.4 points per game), and the chemistry with Edwards and Rudy Gobert hasn’t fully meshed yet. Then again, how quickly is the plug supposed to be pulled? Less than two months into the campaign?

If things are really bad, they still have good players like Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Timberwolves?

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