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The Los Angeles Lakers will play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday in a Western Conference matchup. It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Lakers-Timberwolves prediction and pick.
The Lakers and Timberwolves will play on Friday night as the Lakers continue to look for momentum this season. As we reach the one-third point of the season, Los Angeles is still hovering around .500 looking to find themselves. The Lakers will be without several guys on Friday, some due to injury and others due to health and safety protocols. Los Angeles comes into this matchup as slight favorites on the road. The Timberwolves were powered by Anthony Edwards in their win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Edwards had 38 points and ten three-pointers made in the win. Edwards will however miss Friday's game after entering health and safety protocols.
Here is how FanDuel has set the Lakers-Timberwolves odds for this Friday NBA matchup.
NBA Odds: Lakers-Timberwolves Odds
Los Angeles Lakers -1 (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves +1 (-110)
Over 220.5 (-110)
Under 220.5 (-110)
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Why The Lakers Could Cover The Spread
Avery Bradley, Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, Malik Monk and Russell Westbrook will all miss this game for the Lakers in healthy and safety protocols. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are both probable. Los Angeles has won six out of their last eight games and looked to finally be finding something before the team started dealing with an outbreak of covid. The Lakers will be forced to play this one shorthanded, meaning James and Davis will have to carry heavy loads in this one. Rookie Austin Reeves, who was the hero in Thursday's win over the Dallas Mavericks after his game-winning shot, may again play big minutes with so many guys out for LA.
The Lakers are just a slight favorite in this spot mainly because of the injury report. Minnesota has a mostly healthy roster coming into Friday's matchup while the Lakers are missing half of their rotation. Los Angeles is 6-6 on the road this season and 11-18 vs. the spread overall.
Why The Timberwolves Could Cover The Spread
Minnesota comes into this one healthy and should have a depth advantage on the Lakers in this one despite Edwards being out. Karl-Anthony Towns should be able to carry Minnesota to another win if their supporting cast can help wear down the shorthanded Los Angeles unit. LeBron James and Anthony Davis however will be a very tough challenge still obviously and those two have proven can rise to the occasion when needed. They will be needed tonight, so Minnesota still has to play their best game if they want to neutralize James and Davis on the way to a win.
The Timberwolves are 4-6 in their last 10 games, but have won their last two. Minnesota is 7-9 at home this season and 13-15 vs. the spread overall.
Final Lakers-Timberwolves Prediction & Pick
This will be a tough game for each side as the Lakers are a tough opponent for an up and coming team like Minnesota. A young Timberwolves team will also present challenges to an older, shorthanded Los Angeles group, though. James and Davis should be able to take care of business and pick up another win for the Lakers in this one. The absence of Westbrook might honestly help the Lakers chances at a win in this spot if it means more touches for their best two players.
Final Lakers-Timberwolves prediction & pick: Lakers -1 (-110)
