Timberwolves vs. Lakers Prediction, Pick Against the Spread and Latest Odds for Opening Night
Timberwolves vs. Lakers prediction and pick ahead of Tuesday night's opening game of the season for both teams. The NBA season tips off tonight with LeBron James and the Lakers taking on the new-look Timberwolves. Matt McCuen gives us his best bet.
Matt McCuen - October 22, 2024, 2:31 PM EDT
3 minTimberwolves vs. Lakers Prediction, Pick Against the Spread and Latest Odds for Opening Night
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers meet for a highly anticipated battle tonight. Minnesota comes into the season with Championship aspirations while the Lakers seem to be clinging to relevancy.
Last season, the Wolves finished with a record of 56-26. That record was the franchise's best since 2003-2004, when they went 58-24.
The Timberwolves won their first playoff series since 2004 on their way to the Western Conference Finals.
Minnesota lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals and comes into the season with a sour taste in their mouth.
The Wolves have the seventh-best odds of winning the NBA Finals (+1200).
Timberwolves vs. Lakers Odds
In the first game of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James are home underdogs against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns is no longer with the Twolves after being sent to New York in a trade featuring Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle.
It's rare for the Lakers to be a home underdog, but with Anthony Edwards reaching superstar status and the Lakers' core group aging, we're seeing a shift in how oddsmakers treat LeBron.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers Date, Time and Where To Watch
- Date: October 22, 2024
- Time: 10:00 ET
- Where To Watch: TNT
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers Prediction
Former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 25.9 points per game a year ago. Big man Rudy Gobert ripped down a team-high 12.9 rebounds per game. Veteran Mike Conley led the squad with 5.9 assists.
Minnesota made headlines in the offseason by trading Karl Anthony Towns in exchange for Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle, who will make their Timberwolves debuts tonight.
The Lakers come into the season looking to build on a 47-35 record. LA reached the postseason for the second straight season but was defeated in the first round.
In the 2022-2023 season, the Lakers reached the Western Conference finals, where they lost to the Denver Nuggets.
Entering the season, the Laker's odds of winning the NBA Championship are +3000. Those are the longest odds of a Lebron James-led team since his rookie season.
James will be playing his first-ever NBA game with his son, Bronny, tonight. The Lakers selected Bronny in the second round, and he will make his NBA debut in prime time.
LeBron James led the team with 25.7 points and 8.3 assists per game a year ago. Anthony Davis enjoyed a strong season with 24.7 points and a team-best 12.6 rebounds.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers Pick
- Pick: Los Angeles Lakers/Minnesota Timberwolves Over 221.5 (-110) (Click here for the latest Lakers vs. Timberwolves odds)
I love the over in this game tonight, and so does our OddsChecker +EV tool.
Our +EV tool shows us that the implied probability of the over cashing is 52.36%. Our AI probability is 55.58%. That makes the expected value of this wager 6.16%.
Both offenses will come out firing tonight!
