With their backs against the wall, the Los Angeles Lakers (-5.5) face elimination as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves in a pivotal Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night.
Anthony Edwards, coming off a dominant 43-point performance in Game 4, looks to lead the Timberwolves to their second straight Western Conference semifinals appearance, while LeBron James and Luka Doncic must find answers after faltering down the stretch in consecutive losses.
The series has heavily favored home teams, with the Lakers winning both previous home games by comfortable margins, setting the stage for what could be a season-defining showdown.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves prediction: who will win?
For today's Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves matchup, our predictive model gives the Lakers a 61.67% chance of defeating the Wolves.
Pre-game probabilities
Los Angeles Lakers
Moneyline
Win %
61.67%
38.33%
Minnesota Timberwolves
Los Angeles Lakers: 61.67% win probability
- Home court advantage with 50 wins on the season (Western Conference 3rd place)
- Superior offensive production (9298 points scored this season)
- Strong recent form (3-2 in last 5 games with LWWLW pattern)
Minnesota Timberwolves: 38.33% win probability
- Defensive vulnerability (8962 points allowed, worse than Lakers' defense)
- Inconsistent road performance (49-33 overall record but lower road win percentage)
- Lower conference standing (6th in Western Conference with one fewer win than Lakers)
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 are on the verge of advancing to the second round in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history as they lead the Lakers 3-1 heading into Wednesday's pivotal Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena.
Anthony Edwards has been nothing short of spectacular for Minnesota, coming off a masterful 43-point performance in Game 4 where the Wolves erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit with a punishing 32-19 run.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic, who logged exhausting 46-minute shifts last game, must find a way to balance their scoring prowess with getting their teammates involved after the Lakers bench contributed just six points in their last outing.
The Lakers' season hangs by a thread despite home-court advantage, where they'll need to solve Minnesota's fourth-ranked playoff offense that's shooting a blistering 38.1% from beyond the arc.
The series has largely followed the home-court script with the host team winning eight of the last nine playoff matchups between these franchises, giving Los Angeles a glimmer of hope despite their recent struggles.
With Maxi Kleber still questionable with a lingering foot injury, the Lakers' lack of depth could prove critical against a Minnesota squad that's won 20 of their last 25 games dating back to early March.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves form
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves head to head
Los Angeles Lakers
50%
Minnesota Timberwolves
50%
Apr 27, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves
116 : 113
Los Angeles Lakers
Apr 26, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves
116 : 104
Los Angeles Lakers
Apr 23, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers
94 : 85
Minnesota Timberwolves
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
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