Following two low-scoring affairs in Los Angeles, the Timberwolves and Lakers will meet once more for Game 3. In this pivotal matchup, Minnesota will need a terrific performance from its face of the franchise, Anthony Edwards. Despite scoring 47 total points in this series, the guard hasn’t been at his best. Can the young superstar lead his Timberwolves to another postseason victory?
Minnesota enters tonight’s contest as three-point favorites, with the over/under set at 207.5 points. Here’s the best Anthony Edwards prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook before Friday’s game tips off.
Anthony Edwards O 5.5 rebounds (-145)
It’s been a bit of a slog for Ant-Man in this series. Through two games, he’s averaging 23.5 points on mediocre 40.9% shooting from the field. The Lakers have a few quality wings on their roster, but the biggest difference has been their zone defense. Edwards himself cited Los Angeles’ coverage in Game 2 as “kind of confusing.”
At this point, it’s fair to expect better shooting from Edwards in Game 3. How much better? That’s hard to say; I wouldn’t feel confident backing the over of 26.5 points (-120). The Lakers are comfortable letting anyone but Edwards beat them. It’s no coincidence that the Timberwolves lost on Tuesday despite a stellar 27-point effort from Julius Randle. As long as #5 is struggling, Minnesota’s chances of winning are slim.
There are still several ways for Edwards to make an impact tonight without scoring. If the Lakers have a notable weakness, it’s down low. Since trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, Los Angeles has been starting career backup Jaxson Hayes at center. In most games, it doesn’t take head coach JJ Redick very long to shift towards a small-ball lineup.
Edwards has put his 6’4″ frame to good use, hauling in a combined 14 rebounds in this series. It’s nothing new for Minnesota’s leading man, who has thrived on the glass in this matchup. In eight of his last ten meetings with Los Angeles, the All-Star has snagged at least six boards. As long as he stays in the game for 40+ minutes, Edwards should clear this total.
