It’s a late Friday night game on the West Coast as the Los Angeles Lakers get set to host the Minnesota Timberwolves.  The Lakers have gutted out two straight overtime wins, taking down Charlotte on Monday and Miami on Wednesday.  Minnesota’s last action also came on Wednesday.  The Wolves dropped a 123-110 decision in Golden State to extend their losing streak to six games.

L.A. is a 3-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with a total of 224.5.

Timberwolves vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds

The Lakers got the best of Minnesota last year, sweeping the three-game season series.  That’s leading about 80 per cent of Sports Interaction bettors to favour L.A. in this one.

It’s been a tough start to the year for the Timberwolves as they’ve dropped six straight games and haven’t managed to cover in any of those losses.  They’re 2-8 against the spread overall, covering once at home and once on the road.  The total has gone Under in 11 of Minnesota’s last 15 games, including seven of 10 this year.

L.A. has been comfortable at home, where they’ve won six of their last seven games.  They’re 4-8 ATS for the season, covering in just three of nine home games.  The total has gone Under in five of the Lakers’ last seven games against Minnesota.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves’ latest loss came despite a career night from Anthony Edwards.  He finished with 48 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals against Golden State for his third 40+ point game of the season.  Edwards averages a team-high 25.9 points per game, to go along with 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals.  Karl-Anthony Towns has been a solid secondary scoring option this year, finishing with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds against the Warriors.  Towns is second on the team in scoring with 22.9 ppg and averages team-highs in rebounds (9.7), steals (1.6, tied with Edwards) and blocks (1.2).  D’Angelo Russell rounds out the offence with averages of 17.1 points, 3,6 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Outside of Edwards, Towns and Russell, scoring has been hard to come by for Minnesota.  Their offence is 22nd in the NBA, averaging 104.6 points a night, while their defence is 23rd, giving up 109.6 points.

Los Angeles Lakers

It’s a promising sign to see the Lakers beat a top team like Miami despite their injury problems.  Malik Monk led the way with 27 points and six rebounds coming off the bench.  Russell Westbrook added 25 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists to add to his lead atop the all-time triple-double list.  Anthony Davis finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds.  Davis, who is averaging 23.9 ppg, leads the team in rebounds (11.3) and blocks (2.3).  Westbrook is averaging 19.3 points and leads the team in assists (8.9).  LeBron James is averaging a team-high 24.8 points and 2.3 steals, but he remains sidelined with an abdominal injury.  Kendrick Nunn (knee), Talen Horton-Tucker (thumb), Trevor Ariza (ankle) and Austin Reaves (hamstring) will also be out Friday.  Rajon Rondo is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Timberwolves vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Timberwolves Team Leaders

MIN

Points	Karl-Anthony Towns 24.57
Assists	D'Angelo Russell 7.08
Rebounds	Karl-Anthony Towns 9.82
FG%	McKinley Wright IV 66.7
Steals	Anthony Edwards 1.46
Blocks	Karl-Anthony Towns 1.12

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 25.17
Assists	D'Angelo Russell 6.67
Rebounds	Karl-Anthony Towns 10.83
FG%	Jordan McLaughlin 70.6
Steals	D'Angelo Russell 1.5
Blocks	Karl-Anthony Towns 2

LAL

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

MIN

Points	Karl-Anthony Towns 24.57
Assists	D'Angelo Russell 7.08
Rebounds	Karl-Anthony Towns 9.82
FG%	McKinley Wright IV 66.7
Steals	Anthony Edwards 1.46
Blocks	Karl-Anthony Towns 1.12

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

MIN

Points	Anthony Edwards 25.17
Assists	D'Angelo Russell 6.67
Rebounds	Karl-Anthony Towns 10.83
FG%	Jordan McLaughlin 70.6
Steals	D'Angelo Russell 1.5
Blocks	Karl-Anthony Towns 2

LAL

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Minnesota

Naz Reid (C)

Out Fri Personal - 29 / 04 / 22

Taurean Prince (SF)

Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 04 / 22

Taurean Prince (SF)

Prob Sat Knee - 12 / 04 / 22

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 09 / 04 / 22

D'Angelo Russell (PG)

Prob Tues Illness - 07 / 04 / 22

Malik Beasley (SG)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22

Malik Beasley (SG)

Ques Tues Ankle - 04 / 04 / 22

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Ques Thurs Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22

Malik Beasley (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 02 / 04 / 22

Jordan McLaughlin (PG)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 26 / 03 / 22

L.A. Lakers

Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)

day-to-day Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22

Dwight Howard (C)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Out Sun Illness - 07 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Out Sun Foot - 06 / 04 / 22

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Out Sun Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 04 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sun Foot - 02 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 01 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22

Injuries

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Naz Reid (C)	Out Fri	Personal - 29 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Reid is tending to a personal matter, and he will not be available for Game 6 of the Western Conference first round versus the Grizzlies.
Taurean Prince (SF)	Prob Tues	Knee - 18 / 04 / 22	3-2	2-3	+ -
Prince is battling inflammation in his right knee, but it is projected that he will face the Grizzlies in the Game 2 of the Western Conference first round.
Taurean Prince (SF)	Prob Sat	Knee - 12 / 04 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Prince is battling inflammation in his right knee, but it is projected that he will face the Grizzlies in the Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 09 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Beverley is bothered by right ankle soreness, but it is likely that he will dress for Sunday's clash with the Bulls.
D'Angelo Russell (PG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 07 / 04 / 22	3-5	5-3	+ -
Russell is dealing with hamstring soreness, but it is likely that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference Play-In against the Clippers.
Malik Beasley (SG)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 22	3-5	5-3	+ -
Beasley has a sprained left ankle, but it is projected that he will be available for Thursday's contest against the Spurs.
Malik Beasley (SG)	Ques Tues	Ankle - 04 / 04 / 22	3-6	6-3	+ -
Beasley is tending to an ankle injury and it is unclear if he will take part in Tuesday's contest versus the Wizards.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Ques Thurs	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22	4-6	7-3	+ -
Beverley has missed the previous two games due to a left ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will lace up for Thursday's matchup with the Spurs.
Malik Beasley (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 02 / 04 / 22	4-7	7-4	+ -
Beasley is managing a left ankle injury, but he will be available to take on the Rockets on Sunday.
Jordan McLaughlin (PG)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 26 / 03 / 22	5-8	8-5	+ -
McLaughlin is dealing with a left quad contusion, but it is likely that he will play against the Celtics on Sunday.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Horton-Tucker exited Sunday's game with a left ankle sprain, and he will not return.
Dwight Howard (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Howard will not take the court for Sunday's contest versus the Nuggets as he will be given a day of rest.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Out Sun	Illness - 07 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Anthony has been absent from the lineup during the past two games with a non-COVID-19 illness, and he will not play Sunday versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Out Sun	Foot - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis has been held out of the previous two games with a right mid-foot sprain, and he will not suit up against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Out Sun	Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Westbrook has missed his second-straight game with a sore right shoulder, and he will not be active against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 04 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Tuesday's clash versus the Suns.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22	2-3	2-3	+ -
Gabriel is tending to a left ankle sprain, but he is projected to partake in Sunday's matchup with the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 02 / 04 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Sunday's clash versus the Nuggets.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Anthony missed the previous game with a non-COVID illness, but it is expected that he will suit up Sunday against the Nuggets.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Gabriel is dealing with a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will dress for Friday's matchup with the Pelicans.