Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Picks & Predictions 4/6/2018

Friday, April 6, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, April 6, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota as 5 point favorites.

The Timberwolves head into this matchup with a mark of 44-34. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.9 as they are averaging 109.6 points per contest while giving up 107.7 per game. The Lakers have an overall mark of 34-44. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 108.4 points per contest and giving up 109.7, which is a point differential of -1.3.

Valuable Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 33-42-3 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 44-33-1 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 41-37-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 41-36-1 against the over/under

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

04/04/18 G Derrick Rose Ankle is "?" Thursday vs Denver
04/04/18 G Jeff Teague Knee is "?" Thursday vs Denver
02/24/18 F Jimmy Butler Knee is out indefinitely

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

04/04/18 G Lonzo Ball Knee is "?" Friday vs Minnesota
04/02/18 F Brandon Ingram Concussion is out indefinitely
03/28/18 G Isaiah Thomas Hip is out for season

Player Spotlight

Andrew Wiggins averages 18 points per game in 36.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.9 assists per contest and 4.3 rebounds per game for Minnesota. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 65%. Karl-Anthony Towns comes into this contest averaging 21.2 points per game while playing 35.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Timberwolves. He pulls down 12.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is currently at 86%.

Player Spotlight

Kyle Kuzma averages 16.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.3 rebounds per contest and 1.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 71%. Julius Randle averages 16.2 points per game while playing 26.9 minutes per contest this year for the Lakers. He grabs 8 rebounds per game and has 2.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage currently is at 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Timberwolves allow 107.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 18th in the league. They also allow a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 29th and 21st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.6 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd, and they give up 24.2 assists per contest which puts them in 22nd place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 27th in the league. Minnesota averages 109.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.86 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 18th in the league. They average 41.7 rebounds per game and 22.6 assists per game, which ranks them 25th and 19th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 29th with 12.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers surrender 109.7 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 23.4 assists allowed per contest, and 24th with 44.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Lakers are 13th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per game this season. Los Angeles is 10th in the league with 108.4 points per game this year. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.33. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 28th in the NBA. They are 2nd in the league in rebounding with 46.3 boards per game and 7th in assists per contest with 23.9. The Lakers are 3rd in turnovers per game with 15.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Timberwolves are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 111.5, and their offensive rating of 113.4 is ranked 3rd. They are 21st in the NBA in pace with 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 13th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in the NBA. Minnesota is 29th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 6th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 21st in the NBA. The Lakers are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 108.1, and their offensive rating of 106.8 is ranked 18th. They are 2nd in the NBA in pace with 100.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 15th. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Timberwolves/Lakers NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Minnesota -5

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