Timberwolves vs Lakers Picks and Prediction – 4/23/2025

The Minnesota Timberwolves play the Los Angeles Lakers on the road Tuesday in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round best-of-seven series. Minnesota leads the series 1-0 after defeating Los Angeles 117-95 on Sunday in Game 1. Minnesota led by just one point at halftime but outscored the Lakers 58-57 after the break. Minnesota can take a commanding 2-0 lead with a win and head back home for Games 3 and 4. Keep up to date with all the NBA action with our NBA picks.

After one game of the playoffs, Jalen McDaniel is the leading scorer for Minnesota with 25 points, while Naz Reid is second with 23 points, and Anthony Edwards is third with 22 points. McDaniels is the leading rebounder with nine, and Edwards is the leader in assists with nine. Minnesota shot 51.2% overall and 50.0% (21-for-42) from 3-point territory.

The Los Angeles Lakers must bounce back with a win in Game 1 or trail 2-0 in the series when headed to Minnesota for the next two games. 

Los Angeles was out-rebounded by Minnesota 44-38, and the Lakers committed 13 turnovers in Sunday’s loss. Los Angeles led by eight points at one point early in the game, and trailed by as many as 27 points in the loss.

After one game of the postseason, Luka Doncic is leading Los Angeles in scoring and rebounding with 37 points and eight rebounds. LeBron James is second in scoring with 19 points and is one of two players with three assists to lead the Lakers. James made just 8-of-18 shots and was 1-for-5 from three-point territory. Los Angeles scored just 95 points in Game 1 on 39.8% shooting overall and 36.6% from 3-point territory. 

The Lakers will bounce back with a victory on Tuesday in Game 1 and level the series with the Timberwolves at 1-1, but the play here is UNDER. The UNDER has cashed in six of Minnesota's last seven, four of Los Angeles’ last six, each of the last five played head-to-head between Minnesota and Los Angeles, and in seven of the last nine that Minnesota has played on the road versus Los Angeles. Final Score Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers win, but our best play is UNDER 107-103.