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Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers return to Crypto.com Arena on Friday, October 24, 2025 (10:00 PM ET) to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference first-round series.
Minnesota enters at 1-0 after a hard-fought win over Portland, while Los Angeles looks to recover from a disappointing road loss to Golden State.
Both teams are banged up early, but with Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic both expected to play through pain, fans should still get a star-powered Friday night showdown in L.A.
You can catch the action on ESPN or stream it live via NBA League Pass.
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Line Movement and Odds
The Timberwolves opened as slight road favorites after their strong finish in Portland. The line has held steady as bettors wait for final confirmation on Doncic’s status.
Current Odds:
- Timberwolves Moneyline: -141
- Lakers Moneyline: +119
- Spread: Timberwolves -2.5 (-113)
- Total: Over/Under 225 (-110)
Stay updated with live movement on the NBA scores and odds page.
The Timberwolves Can Win If…
The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off a 118–114 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, led by a monstrous effort from Anthony Edwards, who dropped 41 points on 50% shooting despite playing through back spasms.
Edwards’ killer instinct late in games remains Minnesota’s engine. He scored five of the team’s final seven points, including the go-ahead three with 1:14 remaining. That poise under pressure — paired with Minnesota’s length on defense — is what made them a Western Conference Finals team last year.
Offensively, Minnesota ranks among the league leaders in efficiency:
- 1st in three-point percentage (50%)
- 8th in effective field-goal rate (58.1%)
- 6th in points allowed per game (114.0)
Julius Randle added 19 points and six assists in his debut, giving Chris Finch a reliable secondary scorer. The Timberwolves’ ability to stretch the floor and defend the paint could overwhelm a Lakers roster missing LeBron James and multiple rotation bigs.
To explore Minnesota’s shooting trends and player props, check the NBA picks section.
The Lakers Can Win If…
The Los Angeles Lakers have talent — but not health. Without LeBron James (sciatica) and Maxi Kleber (oblique), head coach JJ Redick will again rely heavily on Luka Doncic, who delivered a massive 43-12-9 line in the loss to Golden State.
Doncic downplayed a hip/groin issue, calling it “probably nothing,” but he’ll need to shoulder another heavy workload for the Lakers to keep pace. Austin Reaves also showed promise, posting 26 points and nine assists, proving L.A.’s backcourt can generate offense even without LeBron’s playmaking.
The numbers tell two sides of the story:
- The Lakers shot 54.5% from the field (4th in NBA) — elite efficiency inside the arc.
- But they went just 8-for-32 from deep (25%) and 17-for-28 at the line (60.7%), killing their momentum in key stretches.
If the Lakers clean up their free-throw execution and sustain pace out of halftime — their recurring Achilles’ heel under Redick — they can push Minnesota late.
For deeper shooting splits and matchup metrics, visit the NBA teams page.
Betting Trends
- Minnesota is 5-1 ATS in its last six road games.
- Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last five overall.
- Under has hit in six of Minnesota’s last nine matchups with L.A.
- Anthony Edwards has scored 30+ points in five straight vs the Lakers.
- Luka Doncic has averaged 38.5 PPG in his last two games at Crypto.com Arena.
You can review more betting models and projections in the NBA expert betting guide.
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Prediction and Analysis
This matchup boils down to health and execution. Minnesota looks cohesive out of the gate, while Los Angeles continues to search for rhythm under Redick’s system. With LeBron sidelined and Doncic laboring, the Lakers may struggle to match the Timberwolves’ physicality on the glass and defensive rotations.
Expect Edwards to attack relentlessly while Randle controls the mid-range. L.A.’s offense will hang around early but fade if the Wolves force Doncic into ISO-heavy possessions.
Projected Score: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 110
Best Bet: Timberwolves -2.5 (-113)
Total Lean: Under 225 (-110)
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