Amid the eight-game Friday night NBA slate, the Minnesota Timberwolves will host the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Edwards and company are still trying to find their full traction on the season and currently sit in 9th place in the Western Conference with a 12-11 record.
The Timberwolves will be without Joe Ingles tonight but otherwise have a clean bill of health. The Lakers are not as lucky. LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood, and Jalen Hood-Schifino will all miss this game. Austin Reaves has been upgraded to probable after missing the previous five games.
This will be the third matchup between these two teams already this year. Los Angeles produced a seven-point victory in the season opener against the Timberwolves while Minnesota recorded a 109-80 victory over the Lakers in the second matchup on December 2nd.
The Timberwolves enter tonight’s game as 8.5-point favorites and -355 on the moneyline. The Lakers are +280 underdogs on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook with the game total set at 213.5.
Best Anthony Edwards Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Edwards’ props are listed at over/under 25.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.5 made three-pointers and 35.5 combined points, rebounds, & assists.
Anthony Edwards Over 25.5 Points (-120)
So far this season Anthony Edwards is averaging 26.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He has seen a notable uptick in his three-point volume, attempting 10.5 three-pointers per game and connecting at a 42.7% rate. He is tied with Jayson Tatum for the third-most three-point attempts per game across the NBA.
While the Lakers initially looked to be establishing their identity as a defensive-minded team, they have faded in recent weeks. Looking at the 24-game sample size, the Lakers rank 21st in opponents’ points per game, 26th in defensive efficiency, and 26th in opponents’ field goal percentage. While Anthony Davis still has flashes as one of the NBA’s best rim protectors, the perimeter defense has been underwhelming around him.
Edwards has been handed the keys to the Timberwolves organization this offseason and is being granted more offensive freedom than ever before. He is averaging 26.4 points per game this season and has recorded over 25.5 points in 14 of the 23 games.
There have been mixed results during his matchups with the Lakers. In the season-opener, Edwards went for 27 points while shooting 10-25 from the field. During the more recent matchup, Edwards was held to just eight points on 3-13 shooting. It should be noted that he was limted to 26:57 of game time due to it ending in a 29-point blowout.
Minnesota has been off since Sunday so Edwards will have fresh legs in this matchup. The Lakers’ defensive issues are more than just a band-aid fix and will be further magnified without LeBron James. The Timberwolves go as Edwards takes them and expect him to lead the charge with his scoring tonight. Edward has recorded over 25.5 points in six of the past nine games and back-to-back matchups leading into tonight. Expect the two-time All-Star to build off this and record over 25.5 points again tonight against the struggling Lakers defense.
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