Analysis of Lakers vs Timberwolves Matchup: Picks, Predictions, Player Props & Odds

• The Timberwolves are 3-point home favorites over the Lakers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday
• Minnesota leads the best-of-seven series 2-1
• See my Lakers vs Timberwolves picks and predictions below, plus player prop bets and odds

Thanks to their Game 3 victory, the Minnesota Timberwolves are now -200 favorites to get past the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoff bracket. Minnesota brings a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 on Sunday afternoon, and sportsbooks are pegging them as home chalk. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:40pm ET inside the Target Center, in Minneapolis, MN, with ABC providing the broadcast coverage.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Picks & Prediction

• Minnesota Timberwolves -3 (-112 at DraftKings)

My prediction for Game 4 is that the Lakers won’t have the legs to keep up with the Timberwolves. The turnaround between Games 3 and 4 is extremely tight, which favors Minnesota, the younger, deeper team. Give me the Timberwolves -3 as my favorite pick.

LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Luka Doncic all logged 40+ minutes in LA’s 116-104 loss in Game 3, with Doncic playing through an illness.

Doncic was a shell of himself on Friday night, scoring just 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting. He was vomiting for most of Thursday, and played through a fever and chills. At one point in the second quarter, he exited the game and pulled his hoodie over his head, which some teammates interpreted as the end of his night.

He did manage to return in the second half, but was stifled by Jaden McDaniels’ defense. McDaniels forced five Doncic turnovers, while LA committed 19 giveaways overall. The Lakers are averaging only 97 points per outing through three games, shooting 44% from the field, and 36% from three.

LAL vs MIN Advanced Playoff Stats

Without a healthy Doncic, LA is far from a true NBA Championship odds contender. It’s unlikely he’s anywhere close to 100% in Game 4, as playing 40 minutes of high-level basketball is not a cure for the flu.

As for the Timberwolves, they’re starting to resemble the team that made a Western Conference Finals run last year. They boast the fourth best offensive rating in the postseason, and a top-seven defense.

Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle and McDaniels are all averaging north of 20 points per contest. Edwards and Randle are shooting 41% and 50% respectively from three, while the Lakers have no answer for Minnesota near the hoop.

Lost in the Doncic for Anthony Davis trade, is the fact that LA now has no rim protection. Jaxson Hayes is basically unplayable, and the T-Wolves have been abusing them in the paint. Minnesota is +42 in the pain so far in this series, and that number is only going to grow given the Lakers current roster construction.

LAL vs MIN Player Props

NBA player props from DraftKings Sportsbook on April 26. Download the top NBA betting apps before the NBA playoffs.

Lakers vs Timberwolves Player Prop Bets: Rudy Gobert Under 7.5 Points (-120 at DraftKings)

Without a true center, LA goes small most of the time. That means less minutes for Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, as Naz Reid makes more sense at the 5 versus that type of lineup.

Gobert is averaging 10 fewer minutes per game this series, then in the previous seven contests earlier this month. He’s taken only seven shots all series, with 3 of his 10 total points coming from the charity stripe. I’m betting under 7.5 points for Gobert, expecting his attempts and minutes to be limited for a fourth straight game.

Lakers vs Timberwolves Odds

The best odds we can get on our Minnesota -3 bet is -112 at DraftKings. The Timberwolves are -155 moneyline favorites, with LA coming back as +130 underdogs. The total sits at 209, a number these two have cleared in two of three meetings so far.

Odds as of April 26 at DraftKings and FanDuel. See the DraftKings promo code details before signing up.

Per the NBA public betting trends, early money is backing the Lakers, to the tune of 62% of the spread wagers. LA is 3-4 against the spread versus the T-Wolves this season, while Minnesota has covered in eight of their last 12 games overall.

The Los Angeles Lakers are set to face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Both teams have been playing well recently, with the Lakers currently sitting at the top of the Western Conference standings and the Timberwolves making a push for a playoff spot.

When it comes to picking a winner for this game, the Lakers are the clear favorites. They have one of the best records in the league and are led by superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Timberwolves, on the other hand, have struggled at times this season and are still trying to find their identity as a team.

In terms of predictions, it’s likely that the Lakers will come out on top in this matchup. They have more talent and experience than the Timberwolves and should be able to control the game from start to finish. However, anything can happen in the NBA, so fans should be prepared for a competitive game.

When it comes to player props, there are a few key players to keep an eye on in this matchup. LeBron James is always a safe bet when it comes to scoring and playmaking, while Anthony Davis is a dominant force on both ends of the court. For the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns is their go-to player and can put up big numbers on any given night.

As for the odds, the Lakers are likely to be heavy favorites in this game. They have been playing at a high level all season and should be able to handle the Timberwolves with ease. However, upsets happen all the time in sports, so fans should be prepared for anything.

Overall, the Lakers vs Timberwolves matchup promises to be an exciting game with plenty of storylines to follow. Whether you’re a fan of either team or just a casual observer, this game is sure to provide plenty of entertainment and excitement.