Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Pick & Prediction 12/13/24
At 8:00 ET, the Timberwolves (-389) will host the Lakers (+307) at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The over/under line for this Western Conference matchup is 214.
Los Angeles is currently 13-11 and 8th in the Western Conference, while Minnesota is 12-11 and 9th in the West. The Timberwolves are favored by 9 points.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -9
This game will be played at Target Center at 8:00 ET on Friday, December 13th.
WHY BET THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 132-100 in favor of the Timberwolves.
- Our projections have Anthony Edwards finishing with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
- From the field, we have the Timberwolves finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.5% and knocking down 17 threes.
Can the Los Angeles Offense Score Enough on the Road?
The Lakers improved to 13-11 this season with a 107-98 win over the Trail Blazers on Sunday. Playing at home, Los Angeles entered the game as -7.5 point favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 205, falling well short of the 223.5 O/U line.
A key moment came when the Lakers went on a 15-0 run, turning a 35-29 deficit into a 44-35 lead. They dominated the 2nd quarter, outscoring Portland 37-17, but the Blazers fought back in the 3rd, winning it 29-18. The Lakers sealed the win by outscoring Portland 30-24 in the 4th quarter.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers to a win over the Trail Blazers with 30 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 47.6% from the field. D’Angelo Russell added 28 points and 14 assists, hitting 5 threes at a 50% clip, while Rui Hachimura contributed 23 points, making 3 threes at 60% shooting.
The Lakers hit 13 threes as a team, shooting 38.2% from deep and 45.8% overall. Davis scored 14 points in the 1st quarter, while Russell added 13 in the 4th, and Hachimura put up 14 in the 2nd.
The Lakers’ defense shined in their 107-98 win over the Trail Blazers, especially in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed just 17 points. Overall, they held Portland to 98 points on 41% shooting.
From beyond the arc, the Lakers limited the Blazers to 9 threes on 25% shooting. Defensively, they recorded 14 steals and 7 blocks.
Can the Timberwolves Pull Off a Home Win?
The Timberwolves dropped to 12-11 on the season after a 114-106 road loss to the Warriors on Sunday. Minnesota entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 220 points narrowly exceeded the over/under line of 215.5.
Minnesota got off to a strong start, leading 30-21 after the 1st quarter. They played the 2nd quarter to a 28-28 draw but were outscored 44-32 in the 3rd. Heading into the 4th quarter down 93-90, the Timberwolves managed just 16 points in the final period while the Warriors scored 21.
In their 114-106 loss to the Warriors, the Timberwolves connected on 19 three-pointers, shooting 45.2% from beyond the arc. Overall, they shot 45.6% from the field.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 27 points, 15 of which came in the 3rd quarter. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 10 of his 19 points in the 4th, hitting 4 threes at an 80% clip.
Despite strong defensive efforts in the 1st and 4th quarters, where they allowed just 21 points each, the Timberwolves couldn’t overcome a rough 3rd quarter, giving up 44 points in their 114-106 loss to the Warriors. Minnesota held Golden State to 46% shooting overall.
The Timberwolves struggled to contain the Warriors from beyond the arc, allowing 16 threes on 39% shooting. They sent Golden State to the line 20 times, where the Warriors converted 14 free throws. Defensively, Minnesota recorded 6 steals and 8 blocks.