NBA Playoffs 2025: Lakers vs Timberwolves First Round Betting Preview

The No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers will host the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, with their best-of-seven series getting underway on Saturday, April 19 at Crypto.com Arena. 

Check out Odds Shark's preview for this highly-anticipated Western Conference showdown, complete with betting odds, matchup histories, and final predictions. 

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Series Winner Odds

Odds courtesy of Sportsbook; Accurate as of April 14, 2025

The Lakers finished in a three-way tie in the standings with the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers with identical 50-32 records, but earned the No. 3 seed as a result of prevailing in tiebreaker scenarios. The Timberwolves were just a game behind at 49-33, thanks in large part to having the fifth-best record in basketball since the All-Star break at 18-8. 

These two teams did split their season series at 2-2, but only the last game on Feb. 27 showcased the new-look Lakers with Luka Doncic at the helm as he, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves combined for 66 points in a nine-point win at home.

There may be some lingering skepticism from oddsmakers surrounding how the newer pieces on Minnesota will perform in the postseason, as well, mainly Julius Randle. This marks the third playoff berth of his career, but in 15 prior outings, he's shot just 34.4 percent from the field and 28.3 percent from 3-point range with 58 total turnovers (3.9 per game). 

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Series Schedule 

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Spread/Total Betting History

Los Angeles was one of just eight teams in 2024-25 to finish with a record in the OVER/UNDER market of .500 or worse at 41-41. Four of those UNDER results came against Minnesota, as not one of their meetings exceeded a final total of 213 points, including the latest with Doncic.

As far as the spread goes, each home team managed to successfully cover in their own backyard, but there wasn't a single instance of the road team pulling it off. Both sides had near identical records during the regular season when it came to covering as an away team, as the Lakers were 21-20 and the Timberwolves were 20-21.

(Related) 2025 NBA Playoff Series Prices

Los Angeles Lakers Player To Watch: Austin Reaves

Reaves has evolved into so much more than just a supporting player next to two megastars. His numbers tell the tale of someone who could find himself on an All-Star team, providing production across the board while knocking down big shots in clutch moments which helps alleviate some of the pressure on his more highly-touted comrades. 

Averaging 17.7 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in three games against Minnesota isn't anything to scoff at, yet his shooting percentages were well down from his season output, and physical defenders can rattle the 26-year-old guard and force him into bad decisions. 

He's the third option more often than not, so Reaves will never receive most of the glory and often be forgotten when blame gets tossed around. If Los Angeles has hopes for a long and prosperous run towards the Finals, though, he needs to be someone who can contribute on the same wavelength as James and Doncic. Maybe not statistically, but in terms of overall impact. 

Minnesota Timberwolves Player To Watch: Rudy Gobert

The lasting image of Doncic burying a step-back 3-pointer in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals while with the Dallas Mavericks still lingers to this day, and it's one Rudy Gobert will hope to put to rest for good by redeeming himself this time around.

The problem, though, is that his opponent doesn't have the size to truly combat him, which may seem like an advantage in theory, but that could ultimately result in the Stifle Tower getting played off the floor. He doesn't have the lateral quickness or mobility to step away from the basket and defend ball-handlers and dribble penetration if Lakers head coach JJ Redick goes small. 

Whilst he averaged a team-best 35.7 minutes through three appearances versus Los Angeles at 14 points and 13 rebounds per game, keep in mind that those numbers came against Anthony Davis and company and not against this latest iteration of the purple and gold. 

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Series Prediction: Lakers 4-2 (+540)

This is the ideal draw for the Lakers and one which couldn't have turned out any better considering how slim the margin for error was during the last week to lock in seeding. Now it's not going to be a cakewalk getting past a Timberwolves team that excelled over the final few months, but on paper, surely Los Angeles prefers this outcome as opposed to squaring off with the Nuggets, Clippers, or Golden State Warriors. 

Three of the four best players in this series are on the betting favorites, depending on how much value you place on Reaves and if you'd take him over Gobert and Randle. Minnesota was one of four teams to rank in the top eight in the Association in both offensive and defensive efficiency, but so much is going to be asked of superstar wing Anthony Edwards (27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists), which is going to make the departure of Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks all the more glaring. 

This shouldn't be a sweep, simply out of respect to the Timberwolves winning eight of their final nine games to put themselves in contention for home-court advantage, and their size should steal them a game or two to make this appear to be competitive. There's just too much to like with the Lakers and knowing that the 40-year-old James won't have to carry nearly as much of the load he's grown accustomed to shouldering now that Doncic is by his side.

2025 NBA Playoff Previews

Eastern Conference

Western Conference