When the Lakers made the blockbuster trade to acquire Luka Doncic at the expense of Anthony Davis, it was largely motivated by pairing Doncic and LeBron James together in the postseason. We’ll see that duo for the first time in the 2025 NBA playoffs when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series. The Lakers went 50-32 overall, including 31-10 at home, this season. The Timberwolves went 49-33, including 22-19 on the road, this year. The Lakers and Timberwolves split their four matchups this season, with the home team winning each time. Los Angeles defeated Minnesota, 111-102, on Feb. 27 in their only meeting in the James-Doncic era.
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers are favored by 4 points in the latest Timberwolves vs. Lakers odds on FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 216.5. Before making any Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks for the 2025 NBA playoffs, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters the 2025 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 156-115 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Los Angeles vs. Minnesota. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Timberwolves vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves spread: Lakers -4 on FanDuel
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves over/under: 216.5 points
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves money line: Lakers -184, Timberwolves +154
- MIN: The Timberwolves went 9-5 against the spread (ATS) as an away underdog this season
- LAL: The Lakers went 27-14 ATS at home this season
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves streaming: FuboTV (try for free)
Why the Timberwolves can cover
The Timberwolves went 8-1 over their final nine games of the regular season to avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament as they are currently healthy and playing some of their best basketball of the season. Anthony Edwards has emerged into one of the unquestioned elite players in the NBA and he averaged a career-high 27.6 points per game this season. Edwards has increased his scoring total in each of his first five NBA seasons and ranked fourth in the league in scoring this year. He’s also expanded his offensive versatility after shooting a career-best 39.5% on 3-pointers while making 4.1 triples per game, compared to 2.4 made 3-pointers per game last season.
Edwards is complemented by a pair of talented big men in Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert. Gobert, an elite rim protector, can challenge Doncic and James when they attack the basket. Randle is averaging 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in his first season in Minnesota. Four of the Timberwolves’ top-five leading scorers are power forwards or centers, so Minnesota will likely try to utilize its size and defensive prowess on Saturday. The Timberwolves had the No. 5 scoring defense at 109.3 ppg allowed this season. See which team to pick here.
Why the Lakers can cover
The Lakers went 20-13 in 33 games since Doncic made his Los Angeles debut, but given injuries and rest, James and Doncic weren’t always active at the same time. But they quickly showed how dominant they can be as a tandem as following a loss in Doncic’s Lakers debut, Los Angeles won eight straight games in their climb up the Western Conference standings. The Lakers scored 140 points in a 140-109 victory over the Rockets in the second-to-last game of the season and the last time Doncic and James played together to showcase how dynamic the duo can be.
Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists over 28 games with the Lakers following the trade. He averaged 31.8 points over six games in April, including 39 points against the Rockets following scoring 45 points against the Mavericks and his former team. Even in his 22nd season and at 40 years old, James remains one of the top players in the league after averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game this season as he begins his quest toward a potential fifth NBA championship. See which team to pick here.
How to make Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks
The model has simulated Timberwolves vs. Lakers 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Over the total, projecting 218 points, and it also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Lakers vs. Timberwolves, and which side of the spread is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Timberwolves vs. Lakers spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 156-115 roll on top-rated NBA picks since last season, and find out.
