Lakers vs Timberwolves Picks and Predictions: Timberwolves Set To Obliterate Abysmal Lakers

Karl-Anthony Towns probably will not drop another 60 points tonight, but the Minnesota Timberwolves have not needed him to be that prolific as they have rattled off a 9-2 record since the All-Star Break. Oddly enough, the Los Angeles Lakers may be just the right opponent to keep that success rolling.

Here are our free NBA picks and predictions for the Lakers vs. Timberwolves on March 16, with tip set for 8:00 ET.

Lakers vs Timberwolves odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Timberwolves hit the boards Tuesday afternoon as 8-point favorites, a number that bounced between -7.5 and -8.5 for much of the evening before settling at the latter in Wednesday’s earliest hours. The total also ticked upward, to 237.5 after opening at 237.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Lakers vs Timberwolves predictions

• Prediction: Timberwolves -8 (-115)
• Prediction: Under 237.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Timberwolves -13.5 (+195)

Predictions made on 3/16/2022 at 5:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Lakers vs Timberwolves game info

• Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022
• Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Sportsnet

Lakers vs Timberwolves betting preview

Key injuries

Lakers: Talen Horton-Tucker SG (Probable), Dwight Howard C (Questionable), Anthony Davis PF (Out), Kendrick Nunn PG (Out).
Timberwolves: Jaden McDaniels SF (Out), Jarred Vanderbilt PF (Questionable), Naz Reid C (Questionable), Jordan McLaughlin PG (Questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Lakers have gone 1-3 SU as well as ATS at Minnesota since LeBron James moved to Los Angeles. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Timberwolves.

Lakers vs Timberwolves picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

This is not going to be your usual handicap, but to be clear, this is not meant as the thoughts of a Timberwolves fan. Rather, it comes from the experiences of a Twolves season-ticket holder.

A fanbase that has a long memory filled with disappointing seasons has begun to buy in, and that has paid off on the court, as well.

Minnesota has covered the spread in its last four games at home and has gone 10-2-1 against the spread since mid-January.

Those last four ATS victories have come by an average of 15.9 points better than the spread and as a whole, the 10 ATS victories have come by an average of 12.6 points better than the spread.

Over the last several seasons, Target Center has not been known as a raucous environment. Harshly enough, little positive is ever said about the Twolves home venue, but with their newfound success crowds have bought in and blowouts have begun to follow.

Ticket prices are going up, demand is actually arriving, and the Twin Cities may be about to show the world their love of winter sports goes well beyond hockey.

Of course, the differences between these two sides over the last two months have extended well beyond their fanbases. The Timberwolves rank No. 15 in defensive rating since Jan. 16, per statmuse.com, three spots ahead of the Lakers. Offensively, Minnesota ranks No. 2 while L.A. comes in all the way down at No. 25.

Prediction: Timberwolves -8 (-115)

Over/Under analysis

KAT just spurred the Timberwolves to a 149-point showing on Monday with a franchise-record 60 points, but that kind of output is what it has taken lately for Minnesota to top some inflated totals. Seven of its last eight games all closed with totals of at least 231 points, a number that has started to become the norm.

Yet, it has gone Under in the four games leading up to Towns’ explosion.

With the dismal Lakers’ offense, trusting that Under makes sense. Of course, LeBron James could score 50 points for the third time in the last few weeks or Towns could continue his campaign for All-NBA honors, but no bet should ever expect such performances. Just appreciate them if they occur, even if at the expense of your wager.

Prediction: Under 237.5 (-110)

Best bet

A sample size of 10 games out of 13 in the last two months is not one so small it demands dismissal. In eight of those 10 occasions when the Timberwolves beat the spread, they did so handily. For clarity, “handily” in this instance means by at least two possessions more than the spread.

It is becoming an expectation in Minnesota, one the fanbase might even trust.

The current spread of -8.5 (-110) is tempting, but an alternative spread counting on that trend creates even more expected value. Two buckets better than -8.5 rounds up to -13.5, and getting that alternative spread at anything better than +180 is worth raiding.

Pick: Timberwolves -13.5 (+195)

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