LA Lakers (11-8) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-10)
December 2, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Minnesota Timberwolves -6.5; Over/Under: +225.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Target Center on Monday night. Here’s a Minnesota Timberwolves vs LA Lakers Prediction. This article will include a Minnesota Timberwolves vs LA Lakers Pick.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have been in a rut as they’ve lost four of their last six games overall, but they will be feeling much better after outlasting the Jazz in a 105-104 road win last night. Anthony Davis led the team with 33 points and 11 rebounds on 13 of 25 shooting, LeBron James tallied 27 points with 14 assists while Rui Hachimura chipped in with 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
As a team, the Lakers shot 44 percent from the field and seven of 33 from the 3-point line as they found themselves in a real arm wrestle that stayed within single digits, until the Lakers went on a decisive 13-6 run early in the fourth quarter to pull away and escape with the narrow victory. The Lakers will meet the Heat and Hawks after this one.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been doing it tough lately as they’ve lost seven of their last 10 games overall, but they will be eager to build some momentum after snapping a four-game slide with a 93-92 win over the Clippers on Wednesday. Anthony Edwards led the team with 21 points on seven of 21 shooting, Mike Conley added 13 points while Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels each scored 11 points.
As a team, the Timberwolves shot just 41 percent from the field and 15 of 39 from the 3-point line, but this game was all about their defense as they scrapped their way through the game until the final minutes where they went on a pivotal 6-0 run to steal the game at the end.
Why the Minnesota Timberwolves will win
- The favorites have won each of the last 11 games between the Lakers and Timberwolves.
- The Lakers have lost each of their last seven games as road underdogs.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six road games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Timberwolves have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games as favorites against the Lakers following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of the Lakers’ last eight games as underdogs following a road win have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Sixteen of the Timberwolves’ last 20 home games against Western Conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs LA Lakers Prediction
The Lakers are still missing a bunch of players including D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Cam Reddish, while the Timberwolves are missing Joe Ingles once again. The Lakers are coming into this game a little banged up, but they will be breathing a sigh of relief after sneaking past the Jazz in a close win last night. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves were mired in their worst slump of the season before they took down the Clippers to stop a four-game losing streak. The Lakers come into this meeting as the team in better form and they can certainly get the upset win if Davis and James have big games, but the Lakers are playing their second game of a back-to-back set, so I am looking at the Timberwolves to get the much-needed win and cover at home to get back on track.
