The Los Angeles Lakers (35-21) and Minnesota Timberwolves (32-27) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.
The Lakers are 6.5-point favorites over the Wolves on the spread (Lakers -6.5), with the over/under set at 229 total points. Los Angeles is a -250 favorite to win outright, while Minnesota is +205 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Timberwolves vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, February 27.
Timberwolves vs Lakers Prediction
Spread
My Timberwolves vs. Lakers best bet is on Los Angeles to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Over/Under
I'm staying away from the total in this matchup.
My Pick: Lakers -6 (-115)
Timberwolves vs Lakers Odds, Lines, Picks
| Timberwolves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 229 -110o / -110u | +205 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 229 -110o / -110u | -250 |
- Timberwolves vs. Lakers spread: Lakers -6.5
- Timberwolves vs. Lakers over/under: 229 total points
- Timberwolves vs. Lakers moneyline: Lakers -250, Minnesota +205
- Timberwolves vs. Lakers best bet: Lakers -6 (-115)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Thursday Preview
On Monday night, the Timberwolves pulled off a historic comeback in a 131-128 victory over the Thunder. Down by 25 in the second half, the Timberwolves became the first team in NBA history to win a road game against a team with an .800 or better winning percentage when trailing by 20 points or more entering the fourth quarter. The comeback came largely without star Anthony Edwards, who scored just two of the team's final 51 points.
Edwards saw his streak of 18-consecutive games with 20 points come to an end as he only played three minutes in the fourth quarter. He is questionable for tonight's game with right calf soreness. Minnesota will remain without Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, which means Minnesota may need another big game from Naz Reid.
As a starter, Reid is averaging 20.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Last Saturday, the Lakers swarmed Nikola Jokic into 6 turnovers, but he also did not spend much time on the perimeter. While Reid will not command the same attention as a three-time MVP, he will take a higher volume of shots from the perimeter as he is attempting eight 3s per game as a starter.
Reid and the Timberwolves will have to deal with a surprisingly stingy Lakers defense. Since January 14th, the Lakers are leading the league in defensive rating and have won 14 of their last 18 games. Since the All-Star break, the Lakers have not surrendered more than 102 points, including Tuesday's win over the Mavericks. However, that game was far more notable for being the first matchup since the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade.
While Doncic did not shoot the ball well from the field, he had a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. LeBron James led the way in the scoring department with 27 points to go along with 12 rebounds while Austin Reaves had 20 points and five assists. Since Doncic's first game as a Laker, that trio has combined for 71 points per game.
Timberwolves vs Lakers Best Bets
While carrying a questionable tag for tonight, Anthony Edwards does not miss many games, particularly with the opportunity to take on James and Doncic in Los Angeles. However, whether the Timberwolves have their star or not, the Lakers are the side to back tonight. In their last 15 games, the Lakers are eighth in offensive rating, first in defensive rating, and third in net rating.
Whether with Davis or Doncic, the Lakers have been one of the league's teams at home as they are 20-7 straight up and 16-11 against the spread this season. They have covered seven of their last 10 games and the home team has won and covered in all three meetings between these teams this season. If that trend continues, the Lakers will win by at least six points tonight.
In February, James is averaging 29 points per game. He has scored 25 points in seven of his last 10 games and in three of his last five games against Minnesota. Meanwhile, Reaves has scored 15 points in three of his last four games against Minnesota and in nine of his last 10 games overall. He should continue to benefit from the attraction and matchups that James and Doncic draw.
Coming off his triple-double as a Laker, Doncic has had 10 rebounds and seven assists in three straight games. That has helped him record 17 rebounds + assists in all three contests, soaring over the line with 27 in his last game.
For the final leg of tonight's parlay, I'll be backing Naz Reid for 20 points, which he has reached in eight of his last 10 games. He has also scored 20 points in three of his last four games against the Lakers when playing 27 minutes. He should play over 30 tonight.
Best Bet: Lakers -6 (-115)
Timberwolves vs Lakers Same Game Parlay
- LeBron James 25+ Points (-125)
- Luka Doncic Over 16.5 Rebounds + Assists (-105)
- Naz Reid 20+ Points (-185)
- Austin Reaves 15+ Points (-380)
Parlay Payout: +575
Lakers vs. Timberwolves Betting Trends
