The Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24) and Los Angeles Lakers (39-25) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 11:00 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
The Timberwolves are 3-point favorites over the Lakers on the spread (Timberwolves -3), with the over/under set at 234 total points. Minnesota is a -150 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Los Angeles is +125 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Timberwolves vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, March 10.
Timberwolves vs Lakers Prediction, Picks
- Timberwolves vs Lakers picks: Lakers +3 (-110), Over 234 (-110)
My Lakers vs. Timberwolves best bets are on Los Angeles to cover the spread and Over 234 total points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Timberwolves vs Lakers Odds
| Timberwolves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -110 | 234 -110o / -110u | -150 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -110 | 234 -110o / -110u | +125 |
Timberwolves vs Lakers NBA Preview
I’m very nervous about this one.
My power rating makes the spread for this game Timberwolves -4.5. The market line is only Timberwolves -1.5 with a standard 2.5-point homecourt advantage, via Inpredictable.com, which is what it opened at.
Since then, the Wolves have taken sharp action via our PRO Tools. The market and power rating say we should take Minnesota.
The Lakers have been God-awful against anyone with a pulse, with horrible records vs. teams over .500 and over .600, but they are coming off a signature win over the Knicks.
The Wolves trounced the Lakers in the playoffs last year, but lost both matchups against them in early October with Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic both playing one game each.
The trends also favor the Lakers:
- JJ Redick is 35-23 ATS (60%) when the spread is inside four points either way.
- The Lakers are on rest disadvantage to the Wolves, and L.A. is 10-5 ATS with a rest disadvantage this season.
- The Wolves are below .500 ATS. The Lakers are 20-8 ATS this season against teams who are under .500 against the spread.
However, the Lakers are 7-10 ATS against teams with a win percentage over 60%; and 3-7 as home 'dogs overall this season.
Timberwolves vs Lakers Predictions, Betting Analysis
Lakers +3
This one is tough, but I like the Lakers given the matchup.
The Lakers have the ability to spread the floor and stretch the defense.
Teams that can do that make the Wolves’ defensive structure uncomfortable.
The Lakers’ defense is garbage, but the Wolves are actually -0.8 in spread differential against top-10 defenses.
The Wolves don’t have the defenders to deal with Doncic; Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu are too small for him, and Anthony Edwards can’t expend that energy.
Julius Randle has the edge on LeBron, and I’m not sure where Austin Reaves’ game is at.
However, the Lakers’ overall offensive firepower makes this a tough matchup for Minnesota, enough so that I don’t think they should be over two-point favorites on the road.
Over 234
The Over was an auto-play in Lakers' home games for the first run of the season, but the Under has now hit in five of the last six games.
However, I am reluctantly behind the Over again here.
I project the total for this game in the 240s, and there’s simply no indication that the Lakers can slow down Minnesota’s offense.
The Lakers are 24th in defense when facing a top-10 offense; they don’t get up for those games defensively any more than usual — and their offense actually struggles against both top-10 offenses and defenses.
The value is on the Over here.
Timberwolves vs Lakers Best Bets
- Lakers +3 (-110)
- Over 234 (-110)
Spread
My first Timberwolves. Lakers betting prediction is on Los Angeles to cover the spread (+3).
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline in tonight's game.
Over/Under
I will also be taking the Over at 234 total points.
