[7:00 PM] Lakers @ Timberwolves

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Lakers (6-4)

@ Minnesota Timberwolves (2-6)

 

Current odds:

Los Angeles Lakers: (+149)

Minnesota Timberwolves: (-165)

 

• ESPN simulations have Minnesota as 66.9% favorites to win the game.

• 56% of sports bets are currently on Los Angeles to win as (+149) underdogs.

• Reserves Jordan Clarkson and Lou Williams combined for 44 points to lead Los Angeles to a 126-99 rout in New Orleans on Saturday. The Lakers, who buried 16-of-30 3-pointers and had a season-high 36 assists, have won five of their last six overall.

• Minnesota opened a four-game homestand with a 119-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday despite the return of point guard Ricky Rubio, who contributed seven points and six assists after missing five games with an elbow injury. Rubio averaged 14.3 points and 13.7 assists last season against the Lakers as the Timberwolves won two of three meetings.

• D’Angelo Russell finished with 22 points and six assists versus the Pelicans and shot better than 50 percent for the third straight game. Nick Young added 15 points while drilling 5-of-7 3-pointers and he has hit 12-of-22 from long range over the same three-game stretch. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles bench has provided the team’s leading scorer in seven of its 10 contests, with Williams now averaging 16.4 points in only 23.4 minutes.

•As Rubio works his way back into form, backup point guard Kris Dunn still is trying to find his way and in jeopardy of losing some minutes. The rookie was not necessarily expected to provide a great deal of scoring, but he is 4-of-22 from the floor over the last five games. Fellow reserve point man Tyus Jones has hit 6-of-11 3-pointers in a three-game span and has played 39 turnover-free minutes in the last two contests.

• Lakers PF Julius Randle had a season-high eight assists versus New Orleans and has 13 in the last two games after handing out a total of 13 in the previous seven affairs.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Los Angeles Lakers

Confidence: 4/10

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