Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Betting Pick & Prediction 10/22/24
At 10:00 ET, the Timberwolves (-121) will take on the Lakers (+101) in a Western Conference matchup. Last year, Minnesota finished 3rd in the Western Conference with a record of 56-26, while the Lakers were 7th in the West at 47-35.
This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and can be seen on TNT. Currently, the Timberwolves are favored by 1.5 points, with the over/under line set at 219.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES VS LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -1.5
This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena at 10:00 ET on Tuesday, October 22nd.
WHY BET THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 138-117 in favor of the Timberwolves.
- Our projections have Anthony Edwards finishing with Anthony Edwards points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
- From the field, we have the Timberwolves finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.6% and knocking down 18 threes.
Are the Timberwolves Ready for a Road Win?
Ranked 7th in our preseason power rankings, the Timberwolves enter the season with an 82.8% chance of making the playoffs and an 18.7% chance of winning the Northwest Division. Last season, Minnesota finished 56-26, placing 3rd in the Western Conference. They were 30-11 at home and 26-15 on the road.
Against the spread, the Timberwolves were 38-43, and they went 47-16 straight-up when favored. Their games averaged 219.5 points, with an average O/U line of 221 points. They ended the season with an O/U record of 42-40.
The Timberwolves enter the season ranked 16th in our offensive power rankings after finishing 18th in points per game (113.0) last season. They were 21st in possessions per game (97.0) and 29th in field goal attempts per game (85.0), but they shot 48.5% from the field, ranking 10th. Minnesota was 3rd in three-point percentage (38.7%), making 12.6 threes per game (15th) on 32.7 attempts (23rd). They also ranked 8th in free throw attempts per game (22.9).
Anthony Edwards is projected to lead the team in scoring, ranking 7th in our league-wide projections. He averaged 25.9 points per game last season. Donte DiVincenzo, a key addition from the Knicks, is projected 4th on the team in scoring and 2nd in made threes. He averaged 15.5 points per game last season.
Last season, the Timberwolves were the NBA’s top defensive team, allowing a league-low 106.5 points per game. We expect them to remain strong defensively, ranking 1st in our defensive power rankings. Opponents shot just 45.1% from the field against them, the second-lowest percentage in the league, and they held teams to 35.6% shooting from beyond the arc, ranking 9th in three-point defense.
Rudy Gobert, one of the NBA’s top shot-blockers, leads their interior defense, while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle provide rebounding support. Minnesota ranked 5th in blocked shots and defensive rebounds last season, and they averaged 7.9 steals per game, ranking 6th in the NBA.
Will the Lakers Make it Happen at Home?
Last season, the Lakers finished 47-35, placing 7th in the Western Conference. They were 28-14 at home and 19-21 on the road. Heading into this season, we have them ranked 14th in our power rankings, with a 56.1% chance of making the playoffs and a 21.9% chance of winning their division.
In 45 games as the favorite, the Lakers went 32-13 but were just 20-25 ATS. As the underdog, they went 15-22 straight-up. Their games averaged 235.5 points, and they had a 48-34 over/under record, with an average line of 232.4 points.
The Lakers enter the season ranked 13th in our offensive power rankings after finishing 6th in points per game (118.0) last year. They were 4th in possessions per game (101.2) and 3rd in field goal percentage (49.9%), despite ranking 22nd in field goal attempts per game (87.5). The Lakers were 28th in three-point attempts per game (31.4) but made 37.7% of their shots from beyond the arc, ranking 8th. They were 2nd in free throw attempts per game (24.2) and 15th in free throw percentage (78.2%).
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are projected to lead the Lakers in scoring, with LeBron ranked 18th in our league-wide projections and Davis 25th. D’Angelo Russell is projected to lead the team in three-pointers made, ranking 22nd in the league. Austin Reaves is projected to be 3rd on the team in scoring, with Rui Hachimura, who is currently questionable, projected to be 5th.
Last season, the Lakers ranked 13th in our defensive power rankings, despite finishing 23rd in points allowed, giving up 117.4 per game. They were 17th in field goal percentage allowed (47.5%) and 25th in three-point defense, with opponents hitting 37.7% from deep. However, they were much better inside, holding teams to 54.1% shooting, which ranked 10th in the NBA.
On the boards, the Lakers finished 2nd in defensive rebounding, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way. They also ranked 11th in blocked shots, with Davis projected as one of the league’s top shot-blockers this season. The Lakers were 19th in steals, averaging 7.4 per game.