Categories
NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. L.A. Lakers NBA Betting Predictions & Preview

T-Wolves vs Lakers Online Betting Odds

The Los Angeles Lakers will go to battle once again without Kobe Bryant on Friday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves. [ad-4468020]

Minnesota Timberwolves (13-13) at Los Angeles Lakers (12-13)
Date: Friday, December 20, 2013
Time: 10:30 PM ET
Venue: Staples Center
City: Los Angeles, California
O/U Odds: 210
Spread: Minnesota -6
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

ATS Matchup Insight | CappersPicks Insider Preview

The Timberwolves won the last meeting between these teams back in November, 113-90. Kobe wasn’t around for that game, and he won’t be around for this one either after getting knocked out for six weeks because of a knee fracture.

While they will be shorthanded for this game, the team is coming off a win in their last game, a 96-92 win over the Grizzlies in Memphis.

*CLICK HERE* GRAB OUR BEST Expert NBA Picks for 2013 GAMBLING season!

The Lakers hit on 49 percent of their field goal attempts in that one, and it was Kobe leading the way, hitting on 9 of 18 shots, and tying the team high with 21 points. Power forward Pau Gasol matched Kobe’s 21 points and added nine rebounds. The team also racked up 10 blocks, with Gasol compiling three of them. Nick Young chipped in 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting, including hitting on 3 of his 6 shots from beyond the arc.

While the team came away with a win, they’ll have plenty of work to do at practice after getting outrebounded 49-37, including an 18-4 deficit on the offensive glass. Memphis shot 41 percent from the field in the game. Power forward Zach Randolph in particular gave the Los Angeles trouble, racking up 18 points and 16 boards, both team highs.
[ad-6571516]
Minnesota also came away with a win in their last game, and they picked it up in a high-scoring affair with a red hot Portland team, 120-109.

The team’s bigs paved the way to that win. Star forward Kevin Love nearly had a triple-double, racking up 29 points, 15 boards, and nine assists, while center Nikola Pekovic led the way with a team high 30 points and nine rebounds. Guard Kevin Martin also chipped in 22 points on 8 of 15 shooting. Point guard Ricky Rubio filled up the stat sheet with nine points, seven assists, five boards, and two steals. As a team, the Timberwolves shot 50 percent from the field.

On the flip side, Portland hit on 43 percent of their shots from the floor. Point guard Damian Lillard scored a game high 36 points on 13 of 24 shooting, including 7 of 14 shooting from the land beyond, while LaMarcus Aldridge also gave Minnesota some trouble with 15 points and 14 boards.

The Lakers appeared to finally be getting on track and will now have to adjust once again without the services of their top scoring option. They’ll continue to be able to score, but after having so much trouble under the boards against Memphis, it’s tough to imagine them containing Love and Pekovic.

The play: Minnesota -6

By Gino Bottero

Gino is new to CappersPicks.com but NOT new to the online gambling industry.He's got an AMAZING knack for discovering hidden gems when it comes to betting on sports. Stick with him as he predicts when a team will have a letdown! Check Gino out for NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB betting articles all season long!