Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 21/12/2023, 06:50  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Los Angeles Lakers take a trip to Target Center to square off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA on Thursday. The hosts currently sit atop the Western Conference with a record of 20-6, while the visitors are 15-13 and in eighth place. 

Since winning the NBA Cup, the Lakers have fallen off somewhat, securing only one victory in five matches. The sole win during this stretch was a close 122-119 game against the Spurs. In their most recent game on Wednesday night, the Lakers suffered a 124-108 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls. Despite LeBron James leading the team with a double-double of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, it wasn't enough to avoid a second consecutive loss. On the offensive side, the Lakers are averaging 114.1 points per game, ranking 23rd in the league, and scoring 7.4 more points than what Minnesota concedes on average this season. However, defensively, the Lakers have struggled, giving up 113.7 points per game, which could be a challenge against the strong defense of the Timberwolves in this one. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are dealing with injuries, and Jalen Hood-Schifino is likely to miss the upcoming match.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have had an impressive season, but they are about to face a challenging stretch against 16 consecutive plus .500 teams in a row. On Wednesday, they suffered a 127-113 loss to the 76ers, ending a three-match winning streak that included victories over the Mavericks, Pacers, and Heat. Anthony Edwards led the team with 27 points in the loss. Offensively, the Timberwolves are scoring just 0.4 points fewer per game (113.5) than the Lakers allow on average (113.9). Their standout strength, however, lies on the defensive end, where they lead the league by allowing only 106.7 points per game. Yet, despite their strong performance this season, the Timberwolves are currently listed at +2200 to win the NBA title, which could prove to be tremendous value if locked in now and the team goes on to deliver. Leonard Miller and Jaylen Clark are expected to miss the upcoming match due to injury.