The NBA’s opening night slate is always a sight to behold, and this year is no different. After the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics take the floor at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers will begin Western Conference action at 10 p.m.
Minnesota made a dramatic leap in 2023-24, winning 56 games behind rising superstar Anthony Edwards. Meanwhile, the Lakers earned the No. 8 seed and took on the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, losing 4-1.
Both teams have undergone drastic changes since we last saw them. Let’s dive into that, as well as the latest Timberwolves vs Lakers odds, predictions, and best bets.
Timberwolves vs Lakers Odds
NBA odds are current as of Friday, Oct. 18, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Timberwolves (-130) vs Lakers (+110)
- Spread: Timberwolves -2 (-110) vs Lakers +2 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 224 (-110) / Under 224 (-110)
Timberwolves vs Lakers Prediction
Timberwolves 112, Lakers 107
Minnesota made headlines earlier this month when it opted to trade longtime franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. It remains to be seen how the team will function without Towns, but the Wolves added scoring and shooting.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are coming into the season with a new head coach — noted sharpshooter JJ Redick — after moving on from Darvin Ham. Having an intelligent, young mind like Redick should pay dividends on both ends of the floor, but this Lakers roster is still so-so.
Knowing what we know, I’m inclined to side with the Timberwolves in a somewhat difficult spot on the road. Minnesota won the season series 3-1 this past year, and it has the much better team coming into this matchup. Edwards is still improving and could easily take another leap this season, too.
Given the Timberwolves’ penchant for leaning on their defense and playing at a slower pace, I’m expecting them to win a relatively low-scoring season-opener while holding LeBron James and co. in check.
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Timberwolves vs Lakers Best Bets
Timberwolves -2 (-110) @ Lakers
Randle and DiVincenzo don’t have the same top-end talent as Towns, but together, the two of them should be able to make up the difference. Randle has averaged 22.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists over the last six seasons, while DiVincenzo converted 40.1% of his looks from beyond the arc in 2023-24.
Minnesota still has a great roster outside of Edwards and the new additions, including Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels. This team is accustomed to winning on both ends of the floor, but it was particularly strong defensively last season, ranking No. 1 in points allowed (106.5) and defensive rating.
The Lakers have a few solid players beyond James and Anthony Davis — namely Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell — but there are questions about the rest of the roster. Rookie Dalton Knecht has shown flashes in the preseason, but it could be another tricky year for Los Angeles.
Even with a revamped roster, I like the Timberwolves to win and cover on opening night. Edwards is capable of taking over this game on his own, and there are too many questions about the Lakers for me to feel confident in them. Back Minnesota with your NBA bet of the day.
Under 224 Points (-110)
We don’t know exactly how this new Lakers team plans to play, but we can make some assumptions. Los Angeles ranked dead-last in offensive rebounds per game and 28th in three-point attempts in 2023-24, so we can expect Redick to install a more modern offense.
The Timberwolves will provide a major challenge right from the jump, though, and their defense should help keep this game’s total Under 224 points. Minnesota limited opponents to a league-low 45% shooting from the field last year, and they could be better on the glass in 2024-25.
With the Lakers figuring out their offense and the T-Wolves relying on bringing the pressure, I’m more than happy to take the Under.
