NBA Preview: Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves – Monday, Dec. 2, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves will clash in a tough Western Conference matchup on Monday, December 2 at 8:00 PM ET at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NBA betting odds reveal the Timberwolves as favorites with a point spread at -5.0 (-110).

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview

The Lakers are aiming to pile on more wins to get out of their losing status from a few games in their last five overall. With about 20 games under their belt, bettors can get a good feel for how this team is working out.

They have successfully defeated the Timberwolves in their only battle this season, which was a 110-103 outing back at the end of October. A lot has happened since that meeting for both teams, but the Lakers are still working things out.

They have a handful of injured players that will not be available for this matchup, such as Cam Reddish, Austin Reeves, and D’Angelo Russell. With two primary guards out of the lineup, this puts more pressure on players like LeBron h James and Anthony Davis to get the ball rolling and make sure the offense is in motion.

The Lakers are averaging roughly 114 points a game, which ranks 10th in the league. Their defense has consistently allowed opponents to hover near 115 points a game, which ranks 23rd. This spread does not offer a lot of room for error.

Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview

The Timberwolves were able to break their four-game win streak after narrowly defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 93-92. Anthony Edwards did not have the best shooting game, but led them with 21 points.

At seven of 21 from the field, Edwards cannot have that same type of performance against an injury-ridden Lakers team. In fact, he could have a big game here since he has been averaging 27.7 points a game and ranks ninth in scoring.

They also cannot have an abundance of turnovers like they did against the Clippers. With 22 compared to the Clippers’ 15, they should be lucky that they won this game. They were also fortunate enough to have similar shooting percentages and were able to grab more rebounds to give them an advantage.

The Timberwolves are averaging 111.2 points per game and rank 19th in the league. Their defense has allowed opponents to put up 110.3 points per matchup, ranking eighth in the league. This margin is pretty thin, so they cannot have another performance of 20-plus turnovers.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie offers excellent NBA betting odds for the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves showdown. Current odds show the Timberwolves as five-point favorites, with market insights suggesting the Timberwolves having a 72.1 percent chance of winning.

The Lakers have too many injured players and are coming off of little rest, which should pose matchup problems. Look for the Timberwolves to cover the spread.

Final Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -5.0 (-110)