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Timberwolves vs Lakers Pick – NBA Predictions & Odds 3/31/23

Los Angeles Lakers (38-38) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (39-38)
March 31, 2023 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Minnesota Timberwolves -1; Over/Under: +235.5
(Get latest betting odds)

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves duke it out at the Target Center on Friday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a nice run as they’ve won four of their last five games overall and they will be eager to stay hot after beating the Bulls in a 121-110 road win on Wednesday. Anthony Davis led the way with 38 points, nine rebounds and four assists on 13 of 20 shooting, LeBron James added 25 points with eight rebounds and four assists while Austin Reaves chipped in with 19 points and five assists on seven of eight shooting. As a team, the Lakers shot 52 percent from the field and seven of 20 from the 3-point line as they stormed out to an 18-point lead, and they never took their foot off the gas as they led from start to finish.  

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been in decent shape as they’ve were riding a four-game win streak before they ran into the Suns in a 107-100 road loss on Wednesday. Anthony Edwards led the way with 31 points and six assists, Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points while Naz Reid chipped in with 15 points off the bench. As a team, the Timberwolves shot 44 percent from the field and 12 of 35 from the 3-point line as they got off to a decent start and took the narrow lead into halftime, before they let it all slip in the third quarter where the Suns went on a 31-14 run in the third quarter to flip the game on its head and slip away in the end.

Looking at the betting trends, the Lakers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a winning record, 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a win of more than 10 points and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The Timberwolves are 1-5 ATS in their last six home games and 0-4 ATS in their last four home games against a team with a losing road record.

Head to head, the under is 6-0 in the last six meetings overall, the Lakers are 0-6 ATS in the last six meetings overall and the Lakers are 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings in Minnesota. The Lakers could be shorthanded again as LeBron James is listed as questionable, while the Timberwolves are keeping eyes on Austin Rivers, Naz Reid, Taurean Prince and Jaylen Nowell. The Timberwolves are coming into this one with a quiet confidence as they reeled off four wins in a row before they lost to the Suns on Wednesday, but they are going to have their hands full against this Lakers team who have been in great form lately. The Timberwolves open as slight favorites at home, but I think there is value on the Lakers as slight underdogs in this spot, especially if James can make his return, so that’s where I’m leaning in this spot.

Peter Tran's Free Pick: Los Angeles +1

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Peter Tran

Peter Trans is an acclaimed Expert NBA Handicapper, renowned for his insightful analysis and predictions in the world of professional basketball. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the game, Peter has established himself as a trusted authority among basketball enthusiasts and bettors alike. His expertise is showcased on SportsChatPlace.com, where he provides in-depth game analyses, betting tips, and forecasts that are both highly informative and remarkably accurate.

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