The 2024-25 NBA season is about to begin, with the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on October 22, 2024. This game is important for both teams, as they want to start the season strong after last year’s playoff disappointment. The Lakers were eliminated in the first round, while the Timberwolves made it to the Western Conference finals but lost to the Dallas Mavericks. Fans can watch the game live on TNT at 10:00 PM ET.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Game Preview
The Lakers ended their preseason on a rough note, suffering a heavy loss of 132-74 against the Golden State Warriors. Head coach JJ Redick decided to rest his starting players after an exciting overtime win over the Phoenix Suns, giving rookie Bronny James a chance to play more. In the game against the Warriors, James Jr. scored 17 points, bringing his total for the preseason to 25. With LeBron James, who is now 39, aiming for his fifth championship ring, Redick has the tough job of leading the Lakers back to success.
On the other hand, the Timberwolves started their preseason well but faced three straight losses, including a close game where they lost 132-126 to the Denver Nuggets. Rookie Rob Dillingham showed promise with 15 points and seven assists. However, the Timberwolves traded star player Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, affecting their lineup this season.
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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Odds And Predictions
The Timberwolves are currently favored to win, with a spread of -2.5 and a total points line of 224.5. Predictions suggest a close game, expecting the Timberwolves to win 114-112. Both teams have made significant changes this offseason. The Timberwolves added Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to strengthen their playoff chances, while the Lakers are working to improve their defense after ranking poorly in the preseason.
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In recent matchups, the Timberwolves have had the upper hand, winning three of their last four games against the Lakers and eight of the last eleven overall. Anthony Edwards has been particularly effective against Los Angeles, averaging 27.3 points per game. Considering Minnesota’s strong offense and the Lakers’ defensive struggles, betting on the Timberwolves and the OVER at 224.5 points looks like a good bet for this opening game.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves Head-to-Head Stats
The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have faced off 129 times during the regular season, with the Lakers winning 85 games and the Timberwolves securing 44 victories. The Lakers made 5079 field goals on 10771 attempts, shooting .472, with an effective field goal percentage of .512. They converted 2472 of 3282 free throws, grabbed 5489 total rebounds, and scored 13502 points.
With 44 wins and 85 losses, the Timberwolves made 4972 field goals on 11058 attempts, shooting .450, with an effective field goal percentage of .483. They made 2339 of 3035 free throws, collected 5453 rebounds, and scored 13026 points.
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