VWs NBA 1ST ROUND CONFERENCE GAME OF THE YEAR
- Handicapper
- Vegas Writer
- League
- NBA
- Competition
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
- Release Date
- 04/27/2025 09:22 AM
- Event Date
- 04/27/2025 03:55 PM
- Bet Type
- Point Spread
- Pick
-
Minnesota Timberwolves -2.5 (-110)
(BetMGM)
- Outcome
- Win
- Analysis
- It was only a few weeks ago that the Los Angeles Lakers felt like bona fide NBA title contenders. Ironically, many Lakers fans thought Minnesota would be a favorable first-round matchup. But with the Timberwolves smelling blood in the water with a 2-1 series lead and Game 4 coming up at home today, I'm laying the small number.
While the 2020s Lakers have sort of become infamous for running out of gas at some point in the postseason, the reality is they are just overmatched by Minnesota’s youthful core. Anthony Edwards picked apart the Lakers in Game 3 with 29 points, including several huge buckets down the stretch, but the Timberwolves' best performer in that pivotal win on Friday was Jaden McDaniels, who scored 30 points and served as a stifling defensive anchor.
I’m most concerned about the Lakers' prospects in Game 4 because we saw LeBron go for a superhuman effort with 38 points in Game 3, and it wasn’t enough. And for those who didn't see LeBron's poor sportsmanship, he left the bench with 7.7 seconds left and headed to the locker room. Terrible display for someone who many mistaken fans who call him the GOAT. (He's not)
Luka Doncic was battling what appeared to be a somewhat serious illness as well, as the Wolves held him to just 17 points in limited action. Doncic likely won’t be 100% for today's game, either, which feels like a nearly insurmountable obstacle unless LeBron were to go off for another 40 points. He'll need support, in my opinion.
The Lakers rank 23rd in the league with an 18-22-2 against the spread record on the road, while the Timberwolves have covered in eight of their last 12 games and two of the first three games of the series so far. Lay the small number as my FIRST ROUND WESTERN CONFERENCE GAME OF THE YEAR is the Minnesota Timberwolves.
