The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves close out their season series in the second game of Thursday’s TNT doubleheader and the Lakers will again be without LeBron James. They are slight underdogs at the latest NBA odds at MyBookie Sportsbook.
How to Bet Timberwolves at Lakers NBA Spread & Game Info
Phoenix native and Arizona Wildcat Jerryd Bayless dropped in season-highs of 14 points and 7 assists off the bench in last night’s victory 🌵 pic.twitter.com/K4ftoaOdR3
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) 23 de enero de 2019
- When: Thursday, 10:30 PM ET
- Where: Staples Center
- TV: TNT
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- Radio: TuneIn
- NBA Spread: Timberwolves -1.5 (Total 229)
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Season Series
Wolves lead 2-1, winning both at home. The Wolves are 14-8 in the teams’ past 22 since ending L.A.’s 22-game series winning streak with the 113-90 road victory on Nov. 10, 2013. In the most recent meeting on Jan. 6 in the Twin Cities, the Wolves won 108-86 when LeBron James was out injured. Andrew Wiggins scored 25 of his 28 points in the first half and Karl-Anthony Towns racked up 28 points, 18 rebounds, and four blocks. Jeff Teague finished with 15 points and 11 assists for Minnesota while Lance Stephenson led the Lakers with 14 points and six assists. LA did win the lone home game this season.
Why Bet on Minnesota?
The Wolves completed a home-and-home sweep of the Suns on Tuesday with a 118-91 win in the desert. No surprise it was easy as the Suns were without Deandre Ayton (left ankle sprain) and Richaun Holmes (right foot sprain). T.J. Warren didn’t play in the second half due to a sore right ankle. And Devin Booker as ejected with 5:24 left in the third quarter. Phoenix already trailed by 20 by then.
Gorgui Dieng reportedly fought off two security guards in an attempt to meet Booker in the Suns’ locker room following Tuesday’s ejection. Dieng was subdued by security roughly 15 yards away from the Phoenix locker room. He’s likely to be suspended but not a huge loss.
Derrick Rose made a start at point guard in Tuesday’s win and had six points with one rebound, five assists, one steal and one turnover in just 23 minutes. Thanks to garbage time, Rose wasn’t needed for the final 16:16. He started with Jeff Teague out injured. He has an ankle injury, the same ankle issue that forced Teague to the sidelines for nearly three weeks from December-January.
Karl-Anthony Towns hit 10-of-15 shots and two 3-pointers for 25 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block in 32 minutes Tuesday. KAT played just six minutes in the fourth quarter with the score out of control. KAT is averaging 23.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.2 blocks and 1.8 3-pointers on 46 percent shooting over his last five. Josh Okogie bounced back after playing just 11 minutes against the Suns on Sunday, racking up 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and four 3-pointers on 7-of-11 shooting in 25 minutes on Tuesday.
Point guard Tyus Jones has missed the last three games due to a sprained left ankle suffered Jan. 15 at Philadelphia. His status will be reevaluated prior to this game. Robert Covington has missed the past 10 contests with a bone bruise on his right knee suffered Dec. 31 at New Orleans and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Why Bet on LA Lakers?
Again without LeBron James, the Lakers were pasted at home by the Warriors on Monday to fall to 5-9 without LeBron – who isn’t playing Thursday, either. He did go through parts of practice on Wednesday, so he is getting close. James did go through some 5-on-5 non-contact work this week, but the Lakers continue to draw this out to make sure he’s 100%.
Rajon Rondo (finger) said he would be a game-time decision for Thursday’s game. He went through practice on Wednesday but did not absorb contact. Coach Luke Walton said earlier this week he expects Rondo will play as long as he doesn’t have any setbacks. With Lonzo Ball (ankle) out, the Lakers need Rondo. Over his first seven games with the Lakers, Rondo was averaging 11.9 points, 6.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.
The 32-year-old point guard, signed in the offseason for a one-year, $9 million deal after being recruited to L.A. by LeBron, has played in only 14 games because of two injuries to his right hand and a three-game suspension for his role in the fight between the Lakers and Houston Rockets in L.A.’s home opener.
With Ball out, Josh Hart go the start Monday vs. the Warriors, and he finished with six points (2-of-2 FGs), two rebounds, one assist, and two 3-pointers in 20 minutes. Hart ran into early foul trouble Monday night, which limited his minutes. As a starter, the second-year guard is averaging 9.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, but he’s producing these numbers on just 37.4% shooting from the field.
Kyle Kuzma scored 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 shooting from the foul line Monday vs. the Warriors. The second-year forward missed all five of his three-point attempts, the first time he’s failed to make at least one in a game since January 11. Over the last five Kuzma’s averaging 25.0 points per game on 49.5% shooting from the field.
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Timberwolves at Lakers NBA Betting Trends
- Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 day of rest
- Timberwolves are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win
- The total has gone OVER in 15 of Minnesota’s last 18 games
- Minnesota is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing LA Lakers
- Lakers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 home games
- Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest
- The total has gone UNDER in 17 of LA Lakers’s last 22 games at home
- LA is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Expert NBA Betting Prediction for Timberwolves at Lakers
Minnesota not great on road … but take Wolves here.
