The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t going to make the playoffs, but they have found a groove of late. Their role down the stretch will be spoiler and that is something they will hope to pull off in a game this week against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Los Angeles has won four of its past five games but will be the underdog in this showdown against a superior team while playing on the road. Minnesota is trying to overtake the Spurs for the third seed in the Western Conference and would be well-served to make a move now as San Antonio deals with injuries to its star players.
The Timberwolves need to take care of business in this one.
This war on the floor will go down Thursday, February 15, 2018, at 9 p.m. ET at the Target Center. The game will be televised live on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Thursday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Lakers are 23-32 straight up and 29-26 against the spread. Los Angeles has covered in 13 of 27 games on the road this season. It is 23-22 against the spread as the underdog.
The Timberwolves are 35-24 straight up and 28-29-2 against the spread. Minnesota has gone 15-13-1 against the spread at home this season and 18-20-2 against the spread as the underdog.
Player To Watch
Isaiah Thomas — The Lakers acquired the diminutive guard ostensibly to be an expiring contract at the end of the season so they can chase premium free agents this offseason. But while he’s on the team, Thomas has the talent to be a difference-maker.
He had an ill-fated stint in Cleveland in which Thomas did not fit in with the team in limited duty after returning from a hip injury. He is still a premium scorer which the Lakers could use.
In Thomas’ first game with Los Angeles, he scored 22 points while adding six assists and a steal in 31 minutes of work. The Lakers will be without point guard Lonzo Ball at least through the All-Star break due to injury so there should be plenty of minutes available for Thomas if he is playing well.
Key Stat
23. That’s the number of wins for the Timberwolves at home this season, which is second most in the NBA and more than anybody else in the Western Conference. Minnesota has only dropped seven of 30 games at home this season.
The Timberwolves still have a pretty young team, and talented ones can still struggle on the road. But when guys like Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are at home they are excelling.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are just 9-18 on the road this season so clearly it would be a pretty big upset if they were able to pull out the victory.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The T-Wolves have taken the next step forward this season and have moved into the upper tier of the Western Conference. They don’t have a ton of big-game experience so it remains to be seen how they will play in the postseason, but Minnesota is in good shape to get home court advantage in the first round if it continues on this path.
The Lakers have looked good recently as their young talent is beginning to play better, but the Timberwolves will be too tough at home. Take Minnesota to both win this game and cover the spread. Consider choosing the “over” on the scoring total as both of these teams are capable of scoring a boatload of points and each side would rather run than play halfcourt offense and defense.
While Minnesota is going to win, Los Angeles should at least be entertaining.
NBA Odds: Timberwolves 124, Lakers 111
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