Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Predictions, Odds, Picks

Dec. 17, 2021
Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Nationally televised NBA coverage will conclude on Friday night with a compelling Western Conference matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Coverage begins from Target Center at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Score Prediction

Lakers 117, Timberwolves 112

Best Bets

Lakers +2 (-110) at WynnBet

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Predictions

After finishing 13th in the West with a record of 23-49 last year, Minnesota kept that same ball rolling with another bumpy start to this season, as the Timberwolves opened with a lackluster 4-9 SU and ATS skid – with six of those losses coming by nine points or more.

The Wolves have played decent basketball since their 4-9 start though, considering Minnesota enters Friday’s contest following wins in nine of the last 15 games – despite being favored in just six of those contests.

On the other hand, Los Angeles posted a surprisingly slow start to the new season, as the Lakers kicked things off with a pedestrian 8-9 SU run – despite being favored in over half of those matchups (10).

The Lakers have played much better across their latest stretch though, considering L. A. enters Friday’s contest following wins in six of the last eight games – with four of those victories coming by a double-digit margin.

I’ll take the point with L. A. here, as despite the Lakers’ newly crowded injury report, I still expect them to handle business with relative ease against inefficient offensive squads like the Timberwolves.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Odds

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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Resources

  • Matchup: Pacific vs. Northwest
  • Date: Friday, December 17, 2021
  • Venue: Target Center
  • Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • TV-Time: ESPN - 10:00 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 16-13
  • ATS: 11-18
  • O/U: 14-14-1

Regardless of the circumstances, hovering this close to .500 is still considered a disappointment for this new-look Lakers’ squad, but to be fair, they’ve been banged up from the start, so it’s tough to write them off completely, highlighted by LeBron James participating in just 17 games so far this season.

Things aren’t getting better as time goes on either, considering three Lakers’ players entered the league’s health and safety protocol this week – which completes L. A.’s hearty eight-man injury report.

Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 13-15
  • ATS: 13-15
  • O/U: 14-14

After missing last year’s playoffs by a pretty wide margin, Minnesota managed to keep that same trend going with a similarly poor start to this season, as the Wolves opened with losses in nine of their first 13 games.

The Wolves haven’t looked all that bad since their 4-9 start though, considering Minnesota enters Friday’s contest riding a solid 9-6 SU run – which brings them up to 13-15 SU for the year.


(AP) The Wolves are 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS across their last seven games.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Head-to-Head

The Lakers swept a three-game regular-season set against Minnesota last year, with the first two matchups staying under the total set for Friday’s affair at an average of 217 PPG – while the third matchup soared over that clip with a final score of 137-121.

The latest matchup between these teams took place in just a few weeks ago though, and resulted in a victory for Minnesota, as the Wolves managed to hold L. A. to 12-37 from three-point range over the course of their 108-83 win.

Key Players to Watch

  • LAL: LeBron James - SF (26.1 PPG, 5.9 REB, 6.9 AST)
  • LAL: Anthony Davis - PF (23.8 PPG, 10.2 REB, 2.1 BLK)
  • MIN: Karl-Anthony Towns - C (24.3 PPG, 9 REB, 1.1 BLK)
  • MIN: D'Angelo Russell - PG (18.8 PPG, 4.1 REB, 6.4 AST)

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Conclusion

After extending their winning streak to three on Wednesday night, the Lakers enter Friday’s contest as narrow road underdogs against the Timberwolves at the Target Center – marking the fourth straight road matchup L. A. has been favored in.

I’ll take the point with L. A. here, as the Lakers will likely encounter their fair share of struggles with so many players on the injury report – but I still expect them to handle business against lower-tier squads like the Wolves.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

  • The total has gone UNDER in five straight Lakers' games.
  • The total has gone OVER in five straight Wolves' games.
  • The Lakers are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five games against Minnesota.
  • The Wolves are 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS across their last seven games.