Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction, NBA Odds
The T-Wolves opened their year-ending two-game homestand with Thursday’s 118-110 victory over Dallas to improve to 6-2 over their past eight games, a run that includes a 118-111 home win over the Lakers just 10 days ago. The Lakers kick off a busy weekend that features visits to Minnesota and New Orleans after outpacing the visiting Charlotte Hornets 133-112 on Thursday night. However, the Lakers have failed to post consecutive wins during a shaky 3-6 straight up and against spread run that includes four defeats in six road contests.
The red-hot Timberwolves have emerged as 3.5-point home favourites on the Saturday NBA odds. The Lakers are listed as a +135 underdogs on the NBA moneyline, and the total is pegged at 226.5.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves NBA Betting Odds
The Timberwolves have blazed their trail to the top of the NBA Western Conference standings on the strength of an impressive 16-1 SU record on home hardwood. Minnesota has been effective at containing opposing shooters while compiling a 6-0 SU win streak at home, allowing just 102.8 points per game. However, the T-Wolves have failed to live up to heightened expectations at the sportsbook, posting just one ATS win over their past seven home dates, and failed to cover as 8.5-point chalk in last week’s 118-111 victory over the Lakers that snapped a two-game head-to-head losing streak.
The Lakers have shown signs of rediscovering their scoring touch while winning two of their past three, tallying an average of 125.7 points per game over that stretch after scoring just 11.8 points per game during a preceding 0-4 slide. However, wins on the road have continued to come at a premium. After losing four of their past six, the Lakers now sport a dismal 6-11 SU away record. But they have managed to cover in their past two road outings, putting the brakes on a feeble 1-6 ATS run.
Los Angeles Lakers
For the second time in as many games, Anthony Davis led the attack in Thursday’s victory over Charlotte, scoring a game-high 26 points. AD also led all shooters with 40 points in LA’s Christmas Day loss to Boston, and has now averaged 32.1 points per game over his past nine outings, while recording seven double-doubles over that stretch. Both Davis and LeBron James are listed as questionable for Saturday’s contest with ankle and knee injuries, respectively. That could add to the pressure on the Lakers bench to step up once again after contributing 63 points in Thursday’s win including four players with double-digit point totals.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards looks to build on a season-high 44-point performance in Thursday’s win over the Mavericks when he leads the T-Wolves into action on Saturday night. The first overall pick in the 22020 NBA Draft has taken his game to the next level while dropping 32.3 points per game over his past seven outings, and has averaged an impressive 28.7 points per game on home court so far this season. Things have not gone quite so well for Karl-Anthony Towns, who mustered just 10 points on 25% shooting while seeing a season-low 27 minutes of action on Thursday night. Towns has averaged just 13 points in two appearances this week, and is listed as questionable for Saturday’s contest due to a sore knee. Accordingly, he may offer value on the NBA player props as a +100 bet to record UNDER 20.5 points for the third time in four home dates.