Timberwolves vs. Lakers Prediction, Game 1 Expert Picks & NBA Odds Tonight: Best Bets for NBA Playoffs
The first day of the NBA playoffs wraps up tonight with a marquee Western Conference showdown as the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers (50-32) host the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves (50-32). Tipoff from Crypto.com Arena is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Lakers enter as 4-point favorites, with moneyline odds of at least -179 across all of our best sports betting sites. The total is set at 216.5, and we break down our Timberwolves vs. Lakers prediction, expert picks, and player props to close out Saturday’s NBA action.
📺 Game info & where to watch Timberwolves vs. Lakers live tonight
📅 Date: Saturday, April 19
🕗 Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
📺 TV: ABC
💻 Streaming: ESPN+
💰 Betting insights
Tipoff for Game 1 of the Timberwolves vs. Lakers Western Conference series is just hours away, and we have some betting insights from BetMGM.
The Lakers opened as 4.5-point betting favorites, and the line hasn't seen much movement with 68% of the action backing Los Angeles to cover the spread.
The total (216.5) has dropped a full point since opening at 217.5, but 90% of bettors are backing the Over to hit.
💡 Timberwolves vs. Lakers Game 1 prediction & expert picks tonight: NBA Playoffs - Saturday, April 19
🎯 Score prediction: Lakers 106, Timberwolves 101
✅ Best bet: Under 216.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
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📰 Timberwolves vs. Lakers NBA preview & Game 1 matchup analysis
All four regular-season meetings between these two teams were won by the home team. While that should give the Lakers the edge they need on tonight, the best play of this game is the Under, and it’s not close.
All four of these games featured totals of 213 or less, and two of the games finished with fewer than 200 points. While three of the four games were played before Luka Doncic joined the Lakers, even the game he played in only featured 213 points.
The Timberwolves are allowing just 109.3 points per game this season, fifth-best in the league. The Lakers aren’t much worse, as they rank 10th, allowing 112.2. While both teams are efficient offensively, they’re each averaging 114.3 points or fewer, so there’s no reason to expect the offenses to explode in this contest.
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💰 Timberwolves vs. Lakers picks & best bets for Game 1
✅ Against the spread pick: Lakers -4 (-110 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Lakers (-179 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Under 216.5 (-110 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⛹️ Best Timberwolves vs. Lakers Game 1 predictions
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🔥 Lakers -4 ⭐⭐⭐
The Timberwolves winning this game and this series wouldn’t surprise me at all. However, they struggled against the Lakers on the road, losing both games by at least seven points. Offensively, the Timberwolves haven’t scored more than 109 against the Lakers, and they were held to 103 or less in three of the four games.
The Lakers have been incredible at home this season, as they finished the regular season with a 36-16 mark. That was second-best in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves were road warriors, finishing 24-17 away from home, but the Lakers have such a clear home-court advantage, especially with the postseason underway, that backing them to cover this small spread is the right move.
Best odds: -110 via bet365
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🔥 Lakers ML ⭐⭐⭐⭐
With only one game separating these two teams in the standings, it’s going to be tempting for many to pick the Timberwolves as underdogs, especially with their moneyline price hovering around +150. However, as I’ve already outlined, the Lakers are one of the best teams in the league at home, and they haven’t been bothered by how good the Timberwolves’ defense is. Back the Lakers to win this one, but if they’re ever favored on the road in this series, back the Timberwolves.
Best odds: -179 via Caesars
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🔥 Under 216.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This could very well end up being the best play of the first day of the NBA playoffs. These two teams are averaging less than 200 points per game when they play each other, and they’ve never had a game go Over 213 points this season.
Our best NBA betting sites seem reluctant to set this number too low, but the public is making it easy on them, as 60% of wagers are backing the Over despite these two teams being defensive-minded. Sportsbooks haven’t raised the total despite the overwhelming support for the Over, and I doubt they will. In fact, they’ll probably lower it, as bettors fall into a trap that was never meant to be one.
Best odds: -110 via BetMGM
🚀 Best Timberwolves vs. Lakers parlay picks & SGP odds
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🔢 Best Timberwolves vs. Lakers odds & betting lines
🛒 Shop around for the best Timberwolves vs. Lakers odds from our best sports betting apps.
📡 Timberwolves vs. Lakers live odds
🛜 Game already started? You can still get in on the action with our best live betting sites.
🪧 Timberwolves vs. Lakers opening odds
Opening odds via BetMGM.
- Spread: Timberwolves +4.5 (-102) | Lakers -4.5 (-118)
- Moneyline: Timberwolves +165 | Lakers -200
- Over/Under: Over 217.5 (-110) | Under 217.5 (-110)
📊 Timberwolves vs. Lakers stats: Records, trends & best odds today
📈 For full team stats and betting line history, follow our Timberwolves vs. Lakers matchup.
🚑 Timberwolves vs. Lakers injury report
📋 For the latest injury news, check today's official NBA injury report.
🗳️ Who will win Timberwolves vs. Lakers?
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