Two teams fighting for positioning in the West face off on Wednesday

The Los Angeles Lakers had a big win over the Washington Wizards not long ago. However, they’re still dangerously close to being on the outskirts of the conference. If the Lakers lose just a few more games, they could miss out on a chance to go to the playoffs. Getting a win over the Timberwolves will be key to keeping their spot. Perhaps they could even increase their position.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have become somewhat of an offensive powerhouse. They’ve played amazingly well at home and have a pretty good record against the Lakers. As they prepare to host Los Angeles, they’ll have to find a way to stop LeBron James. Considering Anthony Davis is still out, James is the main player the Minnesota Timberwolves will focus on.

Game Preview: Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves March 16th

The Lakers offense is ranked No.12 in terms of points per game, averaging 111.08. Although their offense will be key in this game, they’ll need a strong defensive output. The Timberwolves are one of the best teams in the NBA in putting points on the board. If the Lakers aren’t careful, they could fall behind early. The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t a team you want to fall behind.

In terms of offense, the Timberwolves have the second-best scoring team in the NBA. This season, the Timberwolves average 114.60 points per game. The game plan for the Timberwolves is to shut down LeBron James. If Minnesota can do this, it will derail the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense. From there, Minnesota can focus on its own offensive engine.

Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Prediction

The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have met multiple times. Their most recent game was in early January and the Lakers were -7. The Lakers won the game but failed to cover the spread. The final score was 108-103 and Minnesota was on the road, but we think the outcome will be different here. In fact, we think Minnesota will come away with the win.

The question is, can Minnesota cover the spread? They’ll likely come in as the favorites considering they’re at home and the better team. If the spread is within five points or fewer, we’d take the Minnesota Timberwolves. If it goes higher than that, the better bet would be the Los Angeles Lakers. Over their last three meetings, the Minnesota Timberwolves are 3-0 ATS. 

In their last ten games against each other, the total has gone under eight times. These two teams have historically had close games and we expect another one here. The game in January finished 11 points under the total, so make sure to take the under here.

• All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
• All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.

* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.