After a dominant 117-95 victory in Game 1, the Minnesota Timberwolves look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James and Luka Dončić face mounting pressure as the Lakers, who went 31-10 at home during the regular season, must respond after shooting just 39.8% from the field in the opener and being outrebounded 44-38.
The Timberwolves enter with momentum, having won 18 of their last 22 games, behind the hot hands of Jaden McDaniels (25 points in Game 1) and Naz Reid (23 points), while exposing the Lakers' lack of size against their frontcourt depth.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves matchup, our predictive model gives the Lakers a 55% chance of defeating the Wolves.
Pre-game probabilities
Los Angeles Lakers
Moneyline
Win %
55%
45%
Minnesota Timberwolves
Los Angeles Lakers: 55% win probability
- Superior scoring output (9298 points scored this season, ranking them in the top half of Western Conference teams)
- Home court advantage with a respectable 50-32 overall record, matching their Timberwolves counterparts
- Better recent form (LWWLW) compared to Minnesota's inconsistent performances in recent games
Minnesota Timberwolves: 45% win probability
- Defensive vulnerability on the road (8962 points allowed this season, which could be exploited by the Lakers' offensive firepower)
- Slightly inferior overall record (49-33) compared to the Lakers (50-32), suggesting a marginal disadvantage in season-long performance
- Lower scoring efficiency (9372 points scored but with a lower win percentage than the Lakers, indicating less effective conversion of scoring into wins)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts.
Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts.
| Los Angeles Lakers | Minnesota Timberwolves | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves preview
The Timberwolves have seized control of this first-round playoff series after their dominant 117-95 Game 1 victory, putting the Lakers in must-win territory as they face the prospect of heading to Minnesota down 0-2.
LeBron James and Luka Dončić will need to rally a Lakers squad that collapsed after the first quarter on Saturday, getting outscored 96-67 the rest of the way as Minnesota's defense suffocated everyone beyond LA's star trio.
Jaden McDaniels exploded for 25 points on near-perfect shooting while Anthony Edwards flirted with a triple-double in Game 1, showcasing Minnesota's depth advantage over a Lakers team that received minimal contributions outside their big names.
The Timberwolves enter Tuesday's clash riding remarkable momentum, having won 18 of their last 22 games while shooting a blistering 50% from beyond the arc in the series opener.
Minnesota's size advantage with Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle poses matchup problems for a Lakers squad lacking frontcourt depth, though LA's 31-10 home record during the regular season suggests they won't go down without a fight.
With Rob Dillingham sidelined for Minnesota and Maxi Kleber out for Los Angeles, this pivotal Game 2 showdown will test whether the Lakers' star power can overcome the Timberwolves' superior depth and defensive prowess.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves form
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves head to head
Los Angeles Lakers
67%
Minnesota Timberwolves
33%
Apr 20, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers
95 : 117
Minnesota Timberwolves
Feb 28, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers
111 : 102
Minnesota Timberwolves
Dec 14, 2024
Minnesota Timberwolves
97 : 87
Los Angeles Lakers
Dec 3, 2024
Minnesota Timberwolves
109 : 80
Los Angeles Lakers
Oct 23, 2024
Los Angeles Lakers
110 : 103
Minnesota Timberwolves
Oct 5, 2024
Los Angeles Lakers
107 : 124
Minnesota Timberwolves
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