Minnesota pays a visit to Los Angeles on Friday, hoping to send the Lakers to a loss while also covering the spread in NBA action at STAPLES Center.

The Lakers sport records of 27-16 and 20-23 ATS heading into this matchup, while the Timberwolves sit at 22-22 and 24-20 ATS on the season. The OVER/UNDER records are 22-21 for the Lakers and 22-21-1 for the Timberwolves.



View Minnesota vs LA Lakers Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Los Angeles opened as 8.5-point favorites, while the NBA total was set at 195 for those who prefer OVER/UNDER betting.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Odds Shark Power Rankings have the Lakers at No. 3 and the Timberwolves at No. 10 heading into this contest. Handicapping models run by the computers at Odds Shark project a 98-97 result in favor of the Lakers.



How They Match Up:
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Timberwolves rank No. 3 in the league with 44.2 per game. That compares with Los Angeles’s No. 2 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Los Angeles is the NBA’s No. 24-ranked team at 5.2 per game, while the Timberwolves rate No. 12 with 7 per contest.

In comparing how the teams stack up statistically, the Timberwolves own the league's No. 21-rated mark, allowing 99.4 points per game when on the road. Los Angeles, on the other hand, rates No. 18 in home scoring.

Last time out for Minnesota, they were a 111-105 loser as they battled the Jazz on the road. The Timberwolves failed to cover in the match as a 2.5-point underdog, while 216 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. The Timberwolves got a 25-point performance from Kevin Love, who added 16 rebounds, but Utah still ran past Minnesota 111-105 on Thursday at EnergySolutions Arena.

The Lakers were a 107-101 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against the Hornets. They covered the 4.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score (208) made Sportsbooks of OVER bettors. Los Angeles got 33 points from Kobe Bryant en route to a 107-101 victory over New Orleans on Wednesday at New Orleans Arena.


Minnesota Timberwolves Trends:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Sacramento are 1-9
After playing Utah are 3-7
After a loss are 5-5

Los Angeles Lakers Trends:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Utah are 8-2
After playing New Orleans are 8-2
After a win are 7-3

A few Timberwolves at Lakers trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Minnesota's last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota


Next up:
Minnesota at Sacramento, Sunday, March 18
LA Lakers home to Utah, Sunday, March 18