NBA Odds: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Lines and Best Bets on December 2

Revenge will be on the minds of the Minnesota Timberwolves as they look to even the season series against the Los Angeles Lakers this Monday at the Target Center.

(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

It can be recalled that the new-look Timberwolves took a punch to gut on NBA Opening Night 2024 when it lost to the same Lakers team 110-103 despite coming in as the 1.5-point favorites in that matchup.

• Despite the loss, early Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers betting lines have the Timberwolves as an even bigger 5.5-point favorites in the second matchup between two Western Conference powerhouses.
• Lakers forward Anthony Davis ran rampant in their first meeting as he dropped 36 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks to offset the 27-point explosion of Timberwolves franchise superstar Anthony Edwards.
• The Lakers head into this matchup fresh off a 105-104 victory over the Utah Jazz yesterday while the Timberwolves escaped the Los Angeles Clippers 93-92 in last Friday’s Emirates NBA Cup action.

Will Edwards and the Timberwolves tie the season series or will LeBron James, Davis, and the rest of the Lakers continue its mastery over the former this season?

As of press time, here’s how the current Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers odds look like as we head into this exciting Western Conference matchup.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers DraftKings NBA Odds for December 2

Moneyline

• Minnesota Timberwolves: -225
• Los Angeles Lakers: +185

Spread

• Minnesota Timberwolves: -5.5 (-110)
• Los Angeles Lakers: +5.5 (-110)

Over/Under (Total)

• OVER 233.5 (-110)
• UNDER 233.5 (-110)

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report

Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report

1. Joe Ingles – Calf – Out

Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report

1. Jaxson Hayes – Ankle – Out
2. Jarred Vanderbilt – Foot – Out
3. Christian Wood – Knee – Out
4. Bronny James – Heel – Out
5. Quincy Olivari – Ankle – Day-to-Day
6. Austin Reaves – Pelvis – Day-to-Day
7. Cam Reddish – Illness – Gametime Decision
8. D’Angelo Russell – Illness – Gametime Decision

Best NBA odds for Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers

• The Minnesota Timberwolves have won four of their previous six matchups against the Los Angeles Lakers. The best Minnesota Timberwolves odds for the home team to cover the spread are available on Caesars Sportsbook for an attractive price of -110.
• The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in their previous meeting this season despite coming in as a slight 1.5-point underdog. FanDuel offers the best odds for the Lakers to win outright at +210.
• A high-scoring affair is always on the cards when the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers cross paths. The best Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers odds for the over are available on DraftKings at -110.

Why will the Minnesota Timberwolves cover the spread?

It was ugly but the Minnesota Timberwolves finally broke free from their long dry spell as they beat the Los Angeles Clippers 93-92 on Friday to snap a four-game losing skid.

Winning just once in their last five games, the Timberwolves banked on the heroics of versatile guard Anthony Edwards who scored the team’s last six points to secure the win.

Minnesota looks to make it two in a row as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers next – the same team who beat them in this year’s opening festivities.

Although they didn’t come away with the win, there are still a few things for the Timberwolves to be optimistic in their second matchup.

• Edwards has remained consistent for the Timberwolves, posting impressive numbers of 27.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while converting 45.3% shots from the field and 42.8% from the three-point country across the team’s first 19 games.
• Minnesota has also been a menace on defense lately by only allowing teams to score 110.3 points per game, which is good for eighth in the league.

One thing the Timberwolves have to address to cover the spread against the Lakers is to find a way for Julius Randle to get his touches going.

The 30-year-old Randle, who has been averaging 21.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, was only held to 11 points against the Clippers. He was also limited to 16 points on 33.3% shooting in their first matchup versus the Lakers.

Should Edwards deliver his usual offense and Randle impose his versatility down low, backing the Timberwolves to cover the spread is something worth considering at these current odds.

Why will the Los Angeles Lakers cover the spread?

The Los Angeles Lakers returned to the winning column on Sunday after beating the Utah Jazz thanks to another monster game to Anthony Davis.

Failing to hit the 20-point mark in two straight games, the 31-year old Davis unloaded 33 points and 13 rebounds to help the Lakers start their four-game road trip on a strong note.

Davis’ explosion comes at a perfect time as the Lakers battle the revenge-seeking Minnesota Timberwolves next.

• As memory serves, Davis had a massive game earlier this season against the Lakers, pouring in an absurd double-double of 36 points and 16 rebounds.
• Even more impressive is the fact that the Lakers were able to impose its defensive presence in multiple areas of the floor, recording eight blocks and seven steals while forcing the Timberwolves to commit 15 turnovers.

Although Davis has been having a career year, the Lakers should know better than to rely on a single man to lead them to victory, which means that LeBron James might need to carry the scoring load for the road team to cover the spread.

It can be recalled that James was only limited to 16 points, five assists, and four rebounds in their first matchup with the Timberwolves, which is a far-cry from his current 22.3 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.2 rebounds average.

• Fortunately for the Lakers, James seems to have gotten over that slump as evident by his double-double performance against the Jazz where he recorded 27 points and 14 assists in addition to five rebounds and two blocks.

Should Davis and James continue to play like they did against the Jazz and the Lakers impose its stinging defense here, backing the road team to cover the spread is something worth keeping an eye on.

Final Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers ML +185

At its best, the Minnesota Timberwolves can compete for the title but they are far from their best right now. That said, I am going out of the limb and picking the Los Angeles Lakers to record its second consecutive road win at these current odds.

With the Timberwolves looking like a shell of their former selves and considering the past history of both teams, I am slightly confident in Anthony Davis and LeBron James to have another big scoring night to propel the Lakers to its second win over Minnesota this season.