Lakers vs. Timberwolves in 2025 NBA playoffs: Schedule, dates, series odds
The 2025 NBA playoffs will pair the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves in a first-round series beginning Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.
The star-studded Lakers (50-32) made the biggest trade of the season, adding five-time All-Star Luka Doncic to a lineup that already included Lebron James and Anthony Davis. There's always "win now" pressure in Los Angeles, and this year's Lakers have their eyes on a deep postseason run. However, a 7-7 finish to the season indicates that head coach JJ Redick might have some fine-tuning to do.
The Timberwolves (49-33) finished the season on a roll, winning eight of their last nine games, with six of those victories coming by double-digit margins. Anthony Edwards is the focal point, leading Minnesota with 27.4 points per game, but the Timberwolves are deep. Head coach Mike Finch can call on eight players who averaged over eight points and 25 minutes per game over the course of the season, and Minnesota split the season series with the Lakers.
Here is the NBA playoff schedule for the Lakers-Timberwolves series, along with expert picks, predictions, odds, and how to watch:
Lakers vs. Timberwolves: NBA playoffs schedule, how to watch, time, TV channel, streaming
The first-round NBA playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves will begin Saturday, April 19, continuing through at least Sunday, April 27.
ABC, ESPN, and TNT will each carry at least one game of the series, while details for games five through seven (should they be necessary) have yet to be announced. Cord-cutting fans can stream the action on Fubo, who are offering a free trial for new subscribers.
All times Eastern.
- Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers | Saturday, April 19 | ABC, Fubo
- Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers | Tuesday, April 22 | TNT, Fubo, Sling TV
- Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves | Friday, April 25 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo
- Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves | Sunday, April 27 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC, Fubo
- Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers | Date/time/broadcast TBD*
- Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves | Date/time/broadcast TBD*
- Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers | Date/time/broadcast TBD*
Watch the entire Lakers vs. Timberwolves series on Fubo
Lakers vs. Timberwolves: NBA playoffs odds
The Lakers are favored to defeat the Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs, per BetMGM.
Odds as of Wednesday, April 16.
- Series winner: Lakers -200 (Timberwolves +165)
Additionally, a six- or seven-game series is seen as the most likely series length:
- Four games: +650
- Five games: +250
- Six games: +200
- Seven games: +200
Lakers vs. Timberwolves: NBA playoffs picks and predictions
Paste BN: Our experts all take the Lakers
Here are Paste BN staff picks for the Lakers-Timberwolves series:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Lakers in seven
- Heather Tucker: Lakers in five
- Jeff Zillgitt: Lakers in seven
NBA.com: Lakers in six
Shaun Powell writes: "This team has a glow in coach JJ Redick’s first season and hit another gear once Luka arrived. Suddenly, even the role players — Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dorian Finney-Smith, etc. — are upticking. Of course, success in the postseason will depend on stars, and the Lakers have more than Minnesota. LeBron, above all, still seems springy here in April. Edwards will need to be epic to make this series close."
ESPN: Staff unanimously picks Lakers to advance
ESPN had 11 staffers submit picks, and while every single one thinks that Minnesota can make this a long series, they all agree that the Lakers are going to advance.
CBS Sports: Six of seven staffers pick Lakers
Only one of the seven writers who submitted playoff brackets for CBS Sports took the Timberwolves, underlining how most experts see the Lakers outlasting Minnesota.