Lakers vs. Timberwolves Predictions, Picks & Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 4, Today 4/27
The game of the night on Friday night was Lakers vs. Timberwolves Game 3, and it didn’t disappoint. From LeBron James scoring 38 points to Anthony Edwards taking over down the stretch, the stars were out. After hitting our best bet for that matchup, it’s time to go through our Lakers vs. Timberwolves predictions for Game 4.
Of course, that means another best bet from our Lakers vs. Timberwolves picks, and we’ll even hook up fans in California and Minnesota - among so many others - with a guaranteed PrizePicks Fantasy welcome bonus!
Lakers vs. Timberwolves Predictions For Tonight NBA Playoffs Game 4, 4/27
You saw how LeBron James went off with the aforementioned 38 points, and he also had 10 boards to go along with them. In terms of Anthony Edwards taking over down the stretch, the young superstar scored or assisted on 13 of the Timberwolves’ points in the final five minutes. He’s also how we hit our best bet of over 4.5 assists - he had eight.
That was clutch, as they also prevented the Lakers from scoring a single field goal in the final four minutes. However, that was all with Luka Doncic dealing with a stomach bug, so he was not his dominant self that we saw in Games 1 and 2. Tonight’s Game 4 remains in Minnesota, so he and the Lakers will need to tie up the series on the road before heading back to LA.
Will they be able to do so? Well, that’s what our Lakers vs. Timberwolves predictions are here to help answer, so let’s discuss each team so that we can transition into our best bet for tonight!
Los Angeles Lakers: Deceiving Defense
Well, we finally have something to talk about regarding the Lakers that isn’t Luka Doncic bullying the Timberwolves defense like he did in last year’s playoffs and the beginning of this postseason. However, it is still defense-related, and given that LA lost the matchup, it may be surprising that we’re highlighting an aspect of their defense.
That’s because despite no longer having Anthony Davis, their presence in the paint has been elite. We're not saying that Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert is known for lighting up the scoreboard, but he didn’t attempt a single field goal on Friday night! Even Naz Reid got off just two shots in the paint. A win is still all that matters, but it’s a noteworthy factor.
Minnesota Timberwolves: A Back-And-Forth Shooting Series
Even beyond the big men down low, figuring out the Minnesota offense has been anything but easy through these first three games. The Timberwolves won Game 1 with their three-point barrage, setting a franchise record with 21 made shots from deep. That led to overconfidence, as they then shot 5-for-25 from three in Game 2’s loss.
Minnesota also shot poorly overall in that Game 2, but once they were back home Friday night, they were back to looking more like Game 1. Going 13-for-26 from three isn’t exactly record breaking, but shooting nearly 50% from the field is nothing to scuff at. After all, it was more than enough to overcome LeBron James’ 38 points.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
The Lakers vs. Timberwolves odds for Game 4 are nearly identical to Game 3 - they are in terms of the point spread, but the total has ticked up three points:
- Point Spread: Los Angeles Lakers +3 (-110) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves -3 (-110)
- Money Line: Los Angeles Lakers (+130) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (-155)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 209.5 (-110) vs. Under 209.5 (-110)
Lakers vs. Timberwolves Best Bet: Los Angeles Money Line (Target Player Picks For A PrizePicks Lineup)
We’ve been targeting player props for this series thus far - and you’ll see how to valuably continue doing so at PrizePicks Fantasy - but as for the best bet from our Lakers vs. Timberwolves predictions for Game 4, we’re keeping things nice and basic.
We appreciate Anthony Edwards coming through with his assists on Friday night, but now our attention turns to the other side of the matchup and a Lakers win. The name of the game for tonight’s Game 4 is turnovers. Really that’s a major factor in any game, so that’s not exactly revolutionary.
Even the Boston Celtics lost their Game 3 just prior to the Lakers on Friday night thanks to having more turnovers than assists (21 to 15). Similarly, LA had twice as many turnovers as Minnesota in Game 3 - 16 to eight. As long as they can keep control of the ball and have Luka Doncic back to 100%, we see them tying the series 2-2.
Keep in mind that we have yet to see him and LeBron James pour it on in the same game. Luka dominated the first two games, while the King’s 38 points were an NBA record for a player 40+ in the playoffs.
With a healthier Luka, we don’t need another record-breaker from LeBron for us to lock in the best bet from our Lakers vs. Timberwolves predictions on the LA money line (add player pick ‘ems at PrizePicks Fantasy as well).
Lakers vs. Timberwolves Injury Report & Starting Lineups
Thankfully, this series has avoided significant injuries like the ones we’ve seen elsewhere to Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum. So, with no Lakers vs. Timberwolves injury news to update, here are the expected lineups for Game 4:
MIN Timberwolves:
LA Lakers:
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Player News
Max Strus shot 0-of-9 from the field in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pacers, going scoreless with seven rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes.
Game 5 was brutal for Strus, who missed all six of his three-point attempts and could not make a shot from the field overall. While he did grab seven rebounds, three more than fellow starter Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers needed more offensive production from Strus. Due to offseason ankle surgery, Strus did not make his first appearance until just before Christmas, which put him in a difficult spot regarding fantasy value. While many managers did not expect much from Strus beyond offering late-round value, he finished outside the top-175 in eight- and nine-cat formats. Look for him again to be a late-round pick in most fantasy leagues.
Jarrett Allen accumulated nine points (4-of-6 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), four rebounds and one steal in 30 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pacers.
After scoring 12 points or more in the first three games of this series, Allen was a shell of himself in Games 4 and 5. While more effective as a scorer in Game 5, the Cavaliers’ center’s impact was once again muted as the East’s top seed watched its season end. That’s an unfortunate conclusion for Allen, who matched his Yahoo! ADP (53) in nine-cat formats during the regular season, according to Basketball Monster. While he was a sixth-round player in eight-cat formats, Allen’s value taking a hit due to Evan Mobley’s emergence was unsurprising. He may not come off the board within the first 50 picks in most drafts next fall, but Allen should remain a dependable option for fantasy managers needing a center.
Evan Mobley logged 37 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pacers, scoring 24 points (8-of-12 FGs, 7-of-9 FTs) with 11 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one three-pointer.
Recording his third double-double in four games, Mobley had his best performance of the series in Game 5. Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t good enough to force a Game 6, as Cleveland combined to shoot 9-of-35 from beyond the arc. A sprained ankle sidelined Mobley for Game 2, and the blown lead in that contest set the tone for the Cavaliers. Regarding fantasy basketball, the Cavaliers forward exceeded his Yahoo! ADP (38) in eight- and nine-cat formats, providing top-25 value in the latter. Mobley’s ADP should be considerably higher next fall as he continues establishing himself as one of the NBA’s top frontcourt players.
Darius Garland shot 4-of-16 from the field and 3-of-4 from the foul line in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pacers, scoring 11 points with four rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes.
On a night when the Cavaliers needed Garland to be his best, the point guard could not rise to the challenge. Not only did he miss all six of his three-point attempts, but Garland was also responsible for five turnovers. His toe injury suffered during the first round did Garland no favors, but this was a disappointing way for him to end the 2024-25 season. While having a Yahoo! ADP outside the top-50, the Cavaliers’ point guard finished within that threshold in eight- and nine-cat formats. Playing alongside Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley may limit his ceiling, but Garland’s fantasy floor is relatively safe.
Donovan Mitchell accumulated 35 points (8-of-25 FGs, 15-of-21 FTs), nine rebounds, one assist, four steals, one block and four three-pointers in 37 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pacers.
Mitchell scored at least 33 points in four of the series’ five games, but efficiency was an issue in Tuesday’s series finale. He shot just 32 percent from the field, boosting his point total with frequent trips to the foul line. Sometimes, Mitchell appeared to be impacted by his injured left ankle, but many players are dealing with an injury at this stage in the season. While he did not live up to his Yahoo! ADP of 17, the Cavaliers’ star offered third-round value in nine-cat formats during the regular season. Mitchell won’t be worth selecting with a first-round pick in 12-team drafts next fall, but he should not drop out of the second round.
Aaron Nesmith finished Tuesday’s Game 5 win over the Cavaliers with 13 points (5-of-14 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one three-pointer in 37 minutes.
Nesmith didn’t have the best night as a three-point shooter, making one of his seven attempts. However, he finished the series 13-of-29 from deep and recorded his first double-double in Tuesday’s clincher. While he had a limited defensive impact on Donovan Mitchell (he shot well over 50 percent when Nesmith was his primary defender), the Pacers’ wing has been a valuable contributor on both ends of the floor. Next up for Indiana is New York or Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.