The 2024-25 NBA season begins on Tuesday as the Minnesota Timberwolves battle the Los Angeles Lakers. Minnesota has reached the postseason in each of the last three seasons, while Los Angeles has made the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. Minnesota was 56-26 in 2023-24, while Los Angeles was 47-35.
Tipoff from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is set for 10 p.m. ET. The SportsLine consensus lists Minnesota as the 1.5-point favorite in the latest Timberwolves vs. Lakers odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 222.5 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our NBA odds page).
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The model knows Minnesota shooting guard Anthony Edwards leads the offense. The top pick of the 2020 NBA Draft led the Timberwolves in scoring last season, averaging 25.9 points per game in 79 games, including 78 starts. He also averaged 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 35.1 minutes of action. The two-time NBA All-Star scored a career-high 51 points last April 9 in a 130-121 win over the Washington Wizards.
The model also knows veteran small forward LeBron James, entering his 22nd season, is among the Lakers' many offensive weapons. He led Los Angeles in scoring at 25.7 points per game, along with averaging 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 35.3 minutes of action. In 71 regular-season games, James connected on 54% of his field goals, including 41% from 3-point range, and 75% of his free throws. James enters the season just 33 steals away from passing Scottie Pippen (2,307) into seventh-place all-time.
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