Timberwolves vs Lakers Prediction, Odds & Game Preview 4/27/2025

The Minnesota Timberwolves look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead as they host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a pivotal Game 4 showdown at Target Center this Sunday afternoon.

After seizing control with a decisive 116-104 victory in Game 3 behind Jaden McDaniels' 30-point performance and Anthony Edwards' clutch late-game heroics, Minnesota's swarming defense forced 19 Lakers turnovers and closed on a dominant 13-1 run to secure the win.

With Luka Dončić battling through illness and LeBron James coming off a historic 38-point performance, the Lakers face a must-win situation to avoid the brink of elimination against a Timberwolves team that's proven they can lock down defensively when it matters most.

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.

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers preview

The Lakers find themselves in a perilous position after Minnesota's commanding 116-104 victory in Game 3 pushed them to a 2-1 series deficit heading into a crucial Sunday matchup at Target Center.

LeBron James delivered a historic 38-point performance in the loss, setting a new playoff scoring record for players 40+ years old, but received minimal support as the Lakers collapsed during a decisive 13-1 Timberwolves run to close the game.

Minnesota's balanced attack overwhelmed Los Angeles, with Jaden McDaniels exploding for 30 points while Anthony Edwards dominated down the stretch with 29 points, including seven in the final minutes.

The Lakers' chances likely hinge on a healthier Luka Dončić bouncing back from his illness-hampered Game 3 showing where he struggled to just 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting with five turnovers.

With their backs against the wall, the desperation is palpable for a Lakers squad that can't afford to return to Los Angeles facing a 3-1 deficit against a Timberwolves team that's proven remarkably clutch in late-game situations.

Key stats

1

Lakers sit 3rd in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record, showing inconsistent recent form of LWWLW

2

Timberwolves hold the 6th position in the West with a similar 49-33 record, just one game behind the Lakers

3

Minnesota has displayed stronger recent form than the Lakers, winning 4 of their last 5 games (WWWLW)

4

The Timberwolves' defense has been notably stronger, allowing 8,962 points compared to the Lakers' 9,198 points against

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