Lakers vs. Timberwolves Prediction and Odds for October 22: NBA Opening Night Hits LA

NBA opening night concluded its double-header with a matchup between the two most recent Western Conference runner-ups, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The opening tip will mark the official start of the JJ Redick era in LA. The 15-year pro bypassed the traditional path to coaching and secured the gig earlier this summer in a bold move by the Lakers’ front office, which was already under fire for failing to rework the team’s roster.

Minnesota was just about the total opposite of LA this summer. They moved off of former first-overall pick and long-tenured Timberwolves Karl-Anthony Towns, who was sent to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. The Wolves took down the 2023 champions, the Denver Nuggets, in the playoffs last year and are one of the top favorites to win the West this season.

Here, we will discuss the Lakers vs. Timberwolves betting odds and share our favorite picks for NBA opening night.

Lakers vs. Timberwolves Betting Odds for Tuesday, October 22

The Lakers were 43-46 (48.3 percent) against the spread last year. That included being 20-23 (46.5 percent) ATS at home and 21-27 (43.8 percent) ATS as a favorite.

The Timberwolves were 49-47-2 (51 percent) ATS, 28-21 (57.1 percent) ATS on the road, and a league-best 18-11 (62.1 percent) ATS as an underdog.

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Lakers vs. Timberwolves Prediction

Los Angeles Lakers Preview

The Lakers were a mess last season. A slow start to the year combined with an inferior roster and style of play doomed them to yet another appearance in the Play-In Tournament and a first-round exit at the hands of the Nuggets.

LA got away from its defensive identity and ranked just 17th in defensive rating, a far cry from where Anthony Davis-anchored teams usually rank. They also attempted the fewest three-point attempts per game in an era that is dominated by shot efficiency and the ability to make more triples than the opponent.

Former coach Darvin Ham also did not get the best out of players such as D’Angelo Russell, Max Christie, and others. 

All of that leaves a huge task—and a huge opportunity—for JJ Redick.

The Lakers attempted 40.4 threes per game during the preseason, which would have ranked second in the league behind only the Boston Celtics in last year’s rankings. The team also showcased less reliance on LeBron James and more off-ball movement and defensive activity.

This roster is still missing a dependable backup big man and athletic off-ball slashers, but it’s an interesting experiment nonetheless.

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Minnesota Timberwolves Preview

The Timberwolves made their name on the defensive end last year as they posted the best defensive rating in the league and held teams to the second-worst field goal percentage. That’s a testament to their personnel, but it was also heavily influenced by their double-big lineup of Towns and Rudy Gobert.

Randle is a better rebounder than Towns, but he doesn’t have the same size and can’t space the floor as well. 

That creates a potential cacophony in styles between him and Gobert, especially with superstar Anthony Edwards’ ability to get downhill when given the proper space—space that will be hard to come by if opposing defenses don’t need to honor Randle and Gobert once they step away from the basket.

On the flip side, the Wolves shot the third-best percentage from three-point land (38.2 percent) and added a deadeye shooter in DiVincenzo, who just had the best year of his career. They also have impactful bench contributors and an MVP-level player in Edwards.

This team is fifth in odds to win the NBA Finals and second in odds to win the Western Conference. It may take them time to gel because of their new-look roster, but they have the talent and a coach in Chris Finch who already found a way to work past a shaky first year after the Gobert trade.

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Lakers vs. Timberwolves Betting Pick

• Lakers vs. Timberwolves pick: Timberwolves +1.5 (-115) at BetMGM

The Lakers are 0-6 against the spread and straight up on opening night with LeBron James in the lineup. It’s also unclear how the team will perform with a completely new approach, new members of the rotation (such as rookie Dalton Knecht), and a debutant coach.

The Wolves are no different. This is not the same team that was one round short of the NBA Finals and that caught fire at different points in the playoffs.

We ultimately believe that the safest bet is still on the Timberwolves given their roster fits better, and they still have core pieces of their identity they can fall back on. 

Still, we advise everyone betting on Lakers vs. Timberwolves to remember that this is the first game of the season and to take it easy.

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How to Watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves on 10/22/24

• When: Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00/10:00 p.m. PT/ET

• Where: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

• TV: TNT

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