The Minnesota Timberwolves have had an eventful few days. Rudy Gobert punched Kyle Anderson on Sunday and is now suspended for Tuesday’s game. Jaden McDaniels punched a wall and fractured his hand, leaving him sidelined as well. Two Timberwolves-Lakers player props stand out for the play-in game — FanDuel and DraftKings have left too much value on the Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell player prop markets, respectively. Check out OddsShopper’s tools for other sharp plays, including our Parlay Builder!
Best Timberwolves-Lakers Play-In Game NBA Player Prop | Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns Prop 25+ Points
When Rudy Gobert misses time, Karl-Anthony Towns steps up. The center scored 25 points in both of the games Gobert missed back in November. He also racked up 30 in Sunday’s game against the Pelicans, 17 of which came in the second half. Although he’ll draw coverage from Anthony Davis, especially in the paint, Towns is averaging 24.8 points per game against him since he joined the Los Angeles Lakers.
Towns shoots well from the parts of the floor where the Lakers struggle. The Lakers have allowed the eighth-most points in the paint per game this year (52.8) and the seventh-most since the All-Star Break (54.1). The Lakers have also allowed the sixth-most above-the-break 3’s this year (9.4) and the 12th-most since the All-Star Break (9.4). Towns ranks second among Minnesota’s players in both shots from the paint per game (6.8) and shots from above the break (5.2).
The Lakers should put up plenty of points against the Timberwolves on Tuesday, and they’ll force Minnesota to play a bit faster. The Lakers ranked fourth in pace this season (101.9) and ninth in the month of April (102.9). Expect Towns to play a bit desperate and pick up the slack on the offensive end. Let’s play a slightly teased-up line at FanDuel Sportsbook for a better payout. Readers yet to register at FanDuel can get $150 in bonus bets after placing a $5 wager!
Best Timberwolves-Lakers Player Prop: Karl-Anthony Towns 25+ Points at +110 for 0.75 Unit at FanDuel
Best Timberwolves-Lakers Play-In Game NBA Player Prop | D’Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russell O/U 5.5 Assists
With both Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert sidelined, the Lakers will have an easy path to scoring in the paint. That should benefit Anthony Davis in the points column but also D’Angelo Russell in the assists column. Russell ranks second on the Lakers in potential assists per game since the All-Star Break (10.8), behind only LeBron James, but leads the team in passes made (46.9).
The numbers support the conclusion that Minnesota will struggle in the assist column on Tuesday. Although they have allowed the 12th-fewest assists per game (25), they allowed 26.5 per game in the games that Gobert missed but Karl-Anthony Towns played. The Timberwolves have allowed 25.8 assists per game without Gobert this year and 28 per game without McDaniels.
Russell racked up a whopping 10 assists in his last game against the Timberwolves, which he played alongside both Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Although Gobert was also on the floor for that game, the paint should be even less clogged this weekend, allowing Russell to set up his teammates even more efficiently. Bettors should head to DraftKings Sportsbook to buy the over 5.5 at +110 before that number disappears!
Best Timberwolves-Lakers Player Prop: D’Angelo Russell Over 5.5 Assists at +110 for 0.75 Unit at DraftKings
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