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Teams battling the injury bug meet when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a Western Conference showdown on Wednesday night. Los Angeles will be without small forward LeBron James (nerve issue) and point guard Luka Doncic (knee/finger), while Minnesota will be missing Anthony Edwards (hamstring). The Lakers (2-2), third in the Pacific Division, are 1-0 on the road this year. The Timberwolves (2-2), who are tied for fourth in the Northwest Division, are 1-1 on their home court.

Tipoff from Target Center in Minneapolis is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota is a 7.5-point favorite in the latest Lakers vs. Timberwolves odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 225.5. Before making any Timberwolves vs. Lakers picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past seven-plus seasons. The model enters Week 2 of the 2025-26 NBA season on a sizzling 161-120 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $4,000. It also went 24-11 (69%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Now, the model has simulated Lakers vs. Timberwolves 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Lakers vs. Timberwolves:

Lakers vs. Timberwolves spread:    

Minnesota -7.5 at DraftKings    

Lakers vs. Timberwolves over/under:    

225.5 points

Lakers vs. Timberwolves money line:    

Los Angeles +233, Minnesota -290

Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks:    

See picks at SportsLine

Lakers vs. Timberwolves streaming:

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Why the Timberwolves can cover

Forward Julius Randle will look to pick up the scoring slack with Edwards out. In four starts this season, Randle is averaging 25 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 35 minutes. In a 114-110 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, he poured in 31 points, while adding six assists and four rebounds. In the loss to the Lakers on Friday, he scored 26 points, while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists.

Also helping lead the Timberwolves is forward Jaden McDaniels. In four games, he is averaging 16 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and one assist in 31.8 minutes. In Monday's 127-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets, he scored 25 points, while adding four blocks and three rebounds. He had 18 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two assists in 29 minutes in a 118-114 win at Portland on Oct. 22. See which team to back at SportsLine.

Why the Lakers can cover

Guard Austin Reaves has helped carry the Los Angeles offense with the absence of James and Doncic. In four starts this season, he is averaging 35.8 points, 8.5 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 37.8 minutes. In a 127-120 win at Sacramento on Sunday, he registered a near triple-double with 51 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in 39 minutes. He had a double-double against the Timberwolves on Friday, scoring 25 points and dishing out 11 assists with seven rebounds.

Another scoring option for the Lakers is forward Rui Hachimura. In four starts, he is averaging 16.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 36 minutes of action. In the win over Minnesota on Friday, he scored 23 points, while adding two rebounds. In the win at Sacramento, he scored 18 points, while grabbing three rebounds, dishing out two assists and adding two steals in 40 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine

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How to make Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks

SportsLine's model has simulated Lakers vs. Timberwolves 10,000 times and is leaning Over the total, projecting 227 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can head to SportsLine to see the model's NBA picks

So who wins Lakers vs. Timberwolves, and which side of the spread is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lakers vs. Timberwolves spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.