Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers 4/11/2023 Tips, Free Picks and Previews
NBA Play-In – West – 7th Place vs 8th Place
The long and winding regular season of the NBA has finally reached its culmination, and the playoffs have arrived. On Tuesday night, the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers will welcome the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves for the Western Conference play-in game. The stakes are high, as the winner will claim the seventh seed, while the loser will have one last chance to earn a playoff spot by facing off against the winner of the 9/10 game for the eighth seed.
Minnesota will enter the game with confidence after winning their last game against New Orleans, covering the 3.5-point spread as favorites. The Lakers, meanwhile, concluded their regular season with a 128-117 victory over Utah but failed to cover the 17-point spread. While the Timberwolves won two of their three matchups against the Lakers this season, the Lakers emerged victorious in their most recent encounter on March 31, winning 123-111 on the road.
The Timberwolves concluded the regular season with a 42-40 record, winning seven of their last ten games to clinch the eighth seed. Despite their most recent win against the Pelicans, Minnesota’s defense has been a weakness, ranking 18th in the league in scoring defense, conceding 115.8 points per game.
On the offensive end, the Timberwolves boast a potent attack, ranking 13th in the league in scoring, averaging 115.8 points per game. Anthony Edwards has been their primary scoring threat, averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, while Karl-Anthony Towns has contributed 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Jaylen Nowell, and Jaden McDaniels round out the team’s depth. However, the Timberwolves will be without several key contributors, including Reid, Nowell, and Gobert, who was suspended for one game after an altercation with teammate Kyle Anderson during their last game against New Orleans. In conclusion, with a playoff spot on the line, the T-Wolves will need to overcome their injury concerns and defensive struggles if they hope to outdo the formidable Lakers.
- Minnesota is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 matches with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- The Minnesota Timberwolve are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against LA Lakers.
- The T-Wolves are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on the road.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers 4/11/2023 Tips, Free Picks and Previews
The Los Angeles Lakers overcame a rough patch in the regular season to secure their spot in the play-in tournament, winning six of their final seven games and nine of their last 11. Despite their record of 43-39, which placed them last in the Pacific Division, the Lakers managed to clinch a playoff berth, although their hopes of a higher seed were dashed by Golden State’s win on Sunday.
In their most recent game against Utah, the Lakers showed their mettle with a strong start, leading by six points after the first quarter and maintaining a nine-point lead at halftime. Utah attempted a comeback, but Los Angeles held on and closed out the game with an 11-2 run to secure the win. The Lakers shot an impressive 48.5% from the field, including 18 of 45 from beyond the arc, and dominated the boards, grabbing 49 rebounds to Utah’s 45. LeBron James led the team with an outstanding performance of 36 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Throughout the regular season, the Lakers were a formidable offensive team, ranking sixth in the league in scoring with an average of 117.2 points per game, and also ranking sixth in rebounding with 45.7 boards per contest. However, their defense struggled at times, ranking only 20th in the league by allowing 116.6 points per game. LeBron James was the main driving force for the Lakers, averaging 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, while Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell also contributed significantly.
The Lakers will need to monitor the health status of Dennis Schroder, who missed the last two games of the regular season due to a neck injury, as they prepare for their play-in game.
- The total stayed UNDER in 6 of the LA Lakers’ last 7 contests with the T-Wolves.
- The Los Angeles Lakers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home.
- The total remained UNDER in 4 of LA Lakers’ last 5 games at home against Minnesota.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA pick for this game is the Los Angeles Lakers. On Sunday, the Minnesota Timberwolves faced some significant setbacks, as Jason McDaniels suffered a fractured hand and Rudy Gobert is unlikely to play in Tuesday’s play-in game after an altercation with one of his teammates on the bench. In contrast, the Los Angeles Lakers head into the matchup on the back of two consecutive wins, including victories against teams with winning records. Notably, they have covered the spread in four of their last five games against such opponents. With the leadership of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers are expected to emerge victorious and cover the spread. Our prediction puts the final score at 118-106 in favor of the Lakers.
NBA Starting Time: 10:00 PM ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, CA
Date: Tueday, April 11, 2023
TV: TNT
NBA Odds: Los Angeles Lakers -8
NBA Totals: 231.5
