Minnesota Timberwolves (44-20) against the Los Angeles Lakers (35-30)
The 2023-24 NBA season continues Sunday, March 10, with a loaded nine-game slate, including this Western Conference showdown at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, so here’s the Timberwolves vs. Lakers top pick.
The Timberwolves face Los Angeles for the third time this season. Minnesota won the first two games at home, but the Lakers covered the spread in both games. Minnesota will be without Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaylen Clark, and Monte Morris is listed as questionable. Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood are out for the Lakers and Lebron James is questionable.
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Timberwolves fall to Cavaliers
The Minnesota Timberwolves (44-20, 32-32-0 ATS) lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, 113-104. That ended a two-game losing streak and Minnesota is 6-4 in its last 10 games, falling to second place in the conference. The Wolves are 21-12 (17-16-0 ATS) on the road.
Cleveland led by four at halftime, but the Timberwolves were able to take a one-point lead into the third quarter. However, the Cavaliers tied the score, forcing overtime, then pulled away in the extra session. Minnesota made 18 of 22 free throw attempts (81.8%), but Cleveland made 26 free throws, providing most of the margin of victory. Minnesota is ninth in field goal percentage (48.5%).
“A technical foul with 27 seconds left, to be honest, is unacceptable,” Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori said. “That’s who Rudy is, but you have to be smart. He created an automatic visual. He was visibly frustrated – both teams were – but we have to be smarter.”
AND-A YESSIR MC. ???? pic.twitter.com/sTKSAiSWhF
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 9, 2024
Naz Reid came off the bench to score 34 points. He was 10-18 from the field, including 7-11 from three-point range. Reid averages 12.6 points per game. Anthony Edwards led the way with Towns, averaging 26.3 points per game. He had 19 against Cleveland.
Minnesota has been very good defensively, ranking first in opponent field goal percentage (44.6%) and first in opponent field goals made (39.0). They are third in opponent three-point percentage (34.9%) and rebounds allowed per game (40.9).
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Lakers edge Bucks
The Los Angeles Lakers (36-30, 29-36-0 ATS) beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday 123-122. Los Angeles is 6-4 in its last 10 games (4-6-0 ATS) and is 24-11 at home (15-18-0 ATS). The Lakers are in ninth place in the conference.
The Lakers rallied in the second quarter to take a four-point halftime lead. They then increased their lead, ultimately retaining the victory by one point. Los Angeles had a rough day at the line, going 13-19, but they made 52.2% of their shots. This wasn’t surprising since the Lakers are third in field goal percentage (49.8%).
“D-Lo just stepped up and won us the game, and obviously with Spence defending on that last possession,” said Austin Reaves, who scored 18 points for the Lakers. “Just seeing D-Lo return to the game, I kept telling him during the timeouts, ‘Take us home.’
D’Angelo Russell led the way for the Lakers, scoring 44 points, including 21 in the final quarter. Russell added six rebounds and nine assists. He is fourth on the team in points per game (18.1) and also averages 6.2 assists per game.
The Lakers are a very good offensive team, third in field goal percentage (49.8%) and are 10th in three-point shooting (37.4%). Yet there are 24 of themth in shots per game (87.7). Additionally, they are not a very good defensive team, ranked 19th.th in success percentage on the opponent’s field (47.3%) and they are last in shots allowed per match (93.5).
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Best bets for this game
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Insider Status:
Rating:
Although Minnesota won the last two games against Los Angeles, they failed to cover the spread in either game. However, a one point difference makes it a win plus ATS or a loss. It’s that simple. Additionally, the Timberwolves are 7-3 against the Lakers in the last 10 meetings and they are 7-3-0 ATS in the last 10.
This is the final contest of a six-game homestand for the Lakers. They shared the first five, alternating victories and defeats. They will close the homestand with a loss. Before falling to Cleveland, Minnesota had won five straight road games.
Prediction: Take the Minnesota Timberwolves at -1.0 (-110)
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Rating:
These teams have failed in eight of the last ten meetings. That includes four straight games in Los Angeles. These teams have scored over 222 in just two of the last 10 meetings.
The Lakers have scored at least 120 in three of their last five games, but Minnesota is a different type of defense. Nine of their last 10 opponents were under 115 and they held five of the last 10 opponents under 110. Take the Timberwolves to win, 112-109.
Prediction: go under 222.5 (-112)
