- What: NBA Western Conference Playoffs First Round Game 3
- When: April 25, 2025
- Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Time: 6:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)
The Los Angeles Lakers, seeded third, will face the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series this Friday at Target Center in Minneapolis.
The series is tied at 1-1. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. PST.
In the regular season, the teams split their matchups 2-2. The Lakers won Game 2, 94-85, covering the 5.5-point spread while the total went Under 212.
Luka Doncic led with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists, while LeBron James added 21 points. This followed a disappointing 117-95 loss in Game 1, where the Lakers also failed to cover as 4.5-point favorites.
Julius Randle scored 27 points against the Lakers in Game 2, while Anthony Edwards added 25. The Timberwolves struggled early and could not recover after a 34-15 first quarter.
Both teams covered the spread twice in their regular-season games, and all four contests finished under the total.
In Game 2, despite a faster pace, the Lakers’ strong defense allowed 33 fewer points to be scored, while the Timberwolves shooting percentages dropped significantly.
The Lakers need to replicate their defensive intensity, but it remains uncertain if they can. The Timberwolves defensive intensity will also be something to keep an eye on.
While I expect similar effort levels that could keep the total points low, I’m not anticipating another total below 180 points, with a notable difference between that and the 207 needed to hit the over.
The best bet for the Lakers and Timberwolves game is the Under.
Best Bet: Under 207.5 Points at -105 odds
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
