The Los Angeles Lakers will look to stay alive when they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in the 2025 NBA playoffs on Wednesday. Minnesota earned a 116-113 win on Sunday to grab a 3-1 series lead as Anthony Edwards scored 43 points, one shy of matching his postseason career-high. The Timberwolves (49-33), the sixth seed in the conference, are 25-18 on the road this season, including the postseason. The Lakers (50-32), the third seed in the West, are 32-11 on their home court in 2024-25. The teams split four regular-season meetings, with the home team winning each game.
Tipoff from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is set for 10 p.m. ET. Los Angeles won the two previous playoff series with Minnesota. The Lakers are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Timberwolves vs. Lakers odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, after opening as 3.5-point favorites. The over/under for total points scored is 210. The Lakers are -240 on the money line (risk $240 to win $100), while the Timberwolves are +197 (risk $100 to win $197). Before making any Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
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 second full week of the 2025 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 156-116 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It is also 22-11 (67%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has simulated Lakers vs. Timberwolves 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Timberwolves vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves spread: Los Angeles -5.5 at DraftKings
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves over/under: 210 points
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves money line: Minnesota +197, Los Angeles -240
- MIN: The Timberwolves have hit the team total over in 33 of their last 50 games (+13.20 units)
- LAL: The Lakers have covered the spread in 23 of their last 33 home games (+12.00 units)
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Lakers vs. Timberwolves streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Lakers can cover
Point guard Luka Doncic has been a big part of Los Angeles’ scoring punch. Through the first four games of the series, Doncic is averaging 30.8 points, seven rebounds, five assists and one steal in 42 minutes. In Sunday’s Game 4 loss, he poured in 38 points, while adding two assists. He registered a near triple-double in a 94-85 win in Game 2, scoring 31 points, while adding 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Small forward LeBron James has also had a solid series, with three consecutive double-doubles. In Sunday’s loss to the Timberwolves, he scored 27 points, while adding 12 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and three steals. He had 38 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals in a 116-104 loss in Game 3. In four postseason starts, he is averaging 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.3 blocks and two steals in 40.8 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Timberwolves can cover
Shooting guard Anthony Edwards has been on fire this series. In Sunday’s Game 4 win, he poured in 43 points, while adding nine rebounds and six assists. He had a near triple-double in Friday’s Game 3 win, scoring 29 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out eight assists. In four postseason starts, he is averaging 29.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 40.5 minutes.
Power forward Julius Randle is one of four Minnesota players averaging double-digit scoring. In four playoff starts, Randle is averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 39.3 minutes. In Sunday’s Game 4 win, he poured in 25 points, while adding seven boards and three assists. He had 27 points, six assists and four rebounds in the Game 2 loss. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks
SportsLine’s model has simulated Lakers vs. Timberwolves 10,000 times and is leaning Over the total, projecting 211 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 60% of simulations in an A-rated pick. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks.
So who wins Timberwolves vs. Lakers, and which side of the spread hits in over 60% of simulations in an A-rated pick? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lakers vs. Timberwolves spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
Daniel Kohn
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