Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction, NBA Odds
The Lakers have won three straight games despite being decimated by an outbreak of COVID-19 that has sidelined at least four players to date, including veteran playmaker Russell Westbrook. The Timberwolves return home gunning for a third straight win after sweeping a two-game road trip, capped by Wednesday’s 124-107 win in Denver.
Minnesota is a 2.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with a total of 222.5.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves NBA Betting Odds
Friday night’s matchup at Target Center marks the second of four meetings between these teams this season. The Timberwolves rolled to an easy 107-83 win in Los Angeles on November 12, ending a four-game straight up and against the spread losing streak against the Lakers.
Despite their recent slide, the T-Wolves have produced steady results when facing the Lakers on home hardwood, winning outright in seven of their past eight. That run features outright wins in six of seven as betting chalk, with the team covering the spread in five of those clashes. However, Minnesota has been subject to streakiness on home court this season. The club has alternated between lengthy home winning and losing streaks, and is currently mired in a three-game slide, both straight up and against the spread.
The Lakers arrive in Minnesota with five wins in their past seven road dates, including outright wins in two of three as betting underdogs.
Los Angeles Lakers
The loss of Westbrook is a blow to the Lakers, who had already seen Avery Bradley, Dwight Howard, and Talen Horton-Tucker sidelined by COVID. Westbrook showed no signs of illness while piling up 23 points, 10 boards, and nine assists in Wednesday’s 107-104 overtime win in Dallas, and heads to the clinic leading the squad with 8.4 assists per game.
The Lakers have reportedly planned to fill the Westbrook void by signing two-time NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract. Hampered by a chronic hip injury, Thomas has seen action in just three NBA games since the end of the 2019/2020 season, but sparked the Lakers’ interest by scoring 42 points for Grand Rapids in G-League action earlier this week. However, no announcement has yet been made about his availability for Friday night.
Minnesota Timberwolves
After struggling to generate offence during a recent five-game losing streak, the Timberwolves never trailed while marching to a surprisingly easy win over the Nuggets on Wednesday night. Anthony Edwards led the attack, draining 10-of-14 3-point attempts to finish the night with 38 points. The top pick in last year’s NBA Draft has now averaged 31 points over his past two outings, but has tallied just 15.5 points per game over his past two home appearances. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 32 points on Wednesday, and has averaged a steady 26.5 points and 9.5 rebounds over his past four home dates.
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