Timberwolves vs. Lakers | NBA Analysis, Odds, & Best Bets (4/22)

The 2025 NBA Playoffs are officially underway and today we’re here to talk about Game 2 between the Timberwolves and Lakers.

For additional information on picks, props, money lines and more on today’s slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page, here. 

Timberwolves vs. Lakers | Series Information

LeLuka.

Matchup Information

• Location: Crypto.com Arena; Los Angeles, California
• Date: Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025
• Tipoff: 10:00 PM EST

(6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (3) Los Angeles Lakers | Regular Season Matchups

• Timberwolves (102) @ Lakers (111) – 2/27/25
• Lakers (87) @ Timberwolves (97) – 12/13/24
• Lakers (80) @ Timberwolves (109) – 12/02/24
• Timberwolves (103) @ Lakers (110) – 10/22/24

Betting Odds

Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.

Timberwolves vs. Lakers| Game 1 Recap

This one will not be short on STAR POWER.

Result: Timberwolves (117) – Lakers (95)

One of the most anticipated series of the postseason; Anthony Edwards vs. Luka Doncic.

The series began with a huge performance from our the Slovenian Magician himself. Doncic played 40 minutes of a 22-point blowout, scoring 37 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. It was the rest of Hollywood’s favorite team that failed to show up. Lebron struggled early, finishing with 19 points on 44% from the field with just 3 assists.

Reaves was the Lakers third highest scorer, scoring 16 points on 13 shots as all other Lakers failed to reach double digits. Los Angeles’ bench scored just 13 points in the entire game, with 7 of those points coming late in the 4th quarter during the blowout.

Minnesota looked like they were having fun in Game 1. Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid would lead the way in the scoring department, scoring 25 and 23 points respectively. Edwards had a tough night from the field, but still found a way to impact the game; grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 9 assists. Julius Randle looked comfy back in his hold home, scoring 16 points on 55% from the field.

Battle Los Angeles

The Lakers are one of the few teams that took a loss on their home floor in Game 1 this year, Houston being the other. The Lakers looked unprepared, both offensively and defensively. They failed to crack 100-point on their home court and shot below 40% as a team.

Los Angeles also gave up 27-wide open 3-point attempts, part of the reason why the Timberwolves shot 50% from beyond the arc. Minnesota has a very rare opportunity tonight, the opportunity to go up 2-0 in this Western Conference Quarter-Final and then head home for Games 3 & 4. 

The Timberwolves went 6-2 on the road last year in the postseason and are completely comfortable on the road in these situations. Edwards averaged 29.0 PPG on the road this year, elevating his shooting percentage 5% (47%) and 3-point percentage 7% (43%). Look for Edwards and the Timberwolves to come out aggressive tonight, they gravity of the situation isn’t lost on these guys.

Our Best Bets in Game 2 between the Timberwolves & Lakers

Anthony Edwards o10.5 A/R (-128 via BetOnline)

The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Anthony Edwards 5 years ago and they’ve now made the postseason in 4 of the 5 years he’s been on the roster. He’s played 72+ games every year since being drafted and he just set a career high in points per games, 3s made, and 3-point percentage. Antman led the league in 3s this year but it’s the other ways he’s evolved his game I’m interested in today.

Edwards averaged 5.7 RPG this year and 4.5 APG. More of the scoring load fell to Edwards this year with Karl-Anthony Towns now in New York and Julius Randle missing a good chunk of the season. Last season was Edwards’ longest playoff run of his young career, making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals before running into Luka and the Mavericks.

Edwards played 16-games; averaging just under 41 MPG, 27.6 PPG. 7.0 RPG and 6.5 APG. The Lakers have shown their strategy and it’s to blitz Edwards, double team and maybe even triple team the young guard.

If you can contain Anthony Edwards, the other guys can’t continue to shoot 50% from the field. In Game 1, Edwards finished with 8 rebounds and 9 assists; he did while dishing out 13 potential assists and going up for 11 rebounding chances. In Game 1 the Lakers gave up 27 wide open 3-point attempts. 

The Timberwolves hit 19 of those wide open shots (70.4%). The Timberwolves may not hit 70% of those wide open shots tonight, but giving up open shots has been a constant theme for the Lakers this year.

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