Thursday's Top Action
Tom Wilkinson
The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with injuries for much of this season, but Rajon Rondo is set to return on Thursday. It does appear they will have to wait at least one more game for the return of LeBron James and Los Angeles will be without Lonzo Ball for at least the next 4-6 weeks.
The Lakers have not played well without LeBron and have actually fallen out of a playoff spot. They are only two games in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves who are in 11th place in the Western Conference. Let’s look at Thursday’s game on TNT and NBA picks.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Date and Time: Thursday, January 24, 2019, 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
NBA Odds: Timberwolves -1.5, O/U 229
Timberwolves vs. Lakers TV Coverage: TNT
The Lakers are coming off a blowout loss to Golden State on Monday, but they will be getting some players back. Rondo is expected to play on Thursday. "I think Rondo will play Thursday as long as he continues to move with no setbacks until then, but that will be something that we'll keep pushing him and we'll re-evaluate each morning," Lakers coach Luke Walton said to the media.
Rondo has been out for the past 14 games and his loss, especially combined with the loss of LeBron, has made it difficult for Los Angeles to win games. Rondo has only played in 14 of 48 games this season for the Lakers. The Lakers need Rondo back in the lineup, especially since Ball will miss at least the next month with a sprained ankle.
James has missed the past 14 games, but he has been practicing and is close to returning. Walton said James probably won’t play on Thursday. "I haven't seen him do contact yet, so I don't feel as confident," Walton said recently to the media, "But I know you know how serious he is about his rehab. So he's doing everything possible and we've talked. I know he's dying to get back on the basketball court, but he also knows that getting healthy is the top priority. So whenever that day comes, he'll be back out there, but I would say right now I feel more confident about Rondo being ready for Thursday." The Lakers are 5-9 without LeBron in the lineup.
Players are ready for both Rondo and James to return. "It gives us a leader, a leader on the basketball floor," Brandon Ingram said about Rondo. "Puts us in our spots on the offensive end. Pushes the pace, he can score the basketball. And it just makes our team better."
Matchup Numbers
The Timberwolves are coming off a good win at Phoenix on Tuesday night. The Timberwolves are 10-13 ATS on the road this season, with 11 games going over and 12 going under. They are averaging just over 111 points per game and giving up just over 111 per contest.
The Lakers are just 9-14-2 ATS at home, with seven games going over, 17 games going under, with one push. They are averaging about 112 points per game and giving up about 112 per contest.
The Timberwolves are 2-1 against the Lakers this season.
Key Stats
The Timberwolves are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings against the Lakers. The Timberwolves are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win. The Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Northwest.
Looking at the total, the Over is 8-1 in the Timberwolves last 9 road games. The Under is 8-3 in the Timberwolves last 11 vs. the Pacific. The Under is 5-1 in the Lakers last 6 vs. the Northwest. The Under is 18-7-1 in the Lakers last 26 home games.
Tom Wilkinson
The Los Angeles Lakers have been dealing with injuries for much of this season, but Rajon Rondo is set to return on Thursday. It does appear they will have to wait at least one more game for the return of LeBron James and Los Angeles will be without Lonzo Ball for at least the next 4-6 weeks.
The Lakers have not played well without LeBron and have actually fallen out of a playoff spot. They are only two games in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves who are in 11th place in the Western Conference. Let’s look at Thursday’s game on TNT and NBA picks.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Date and Time: Thursday, January 24, 2019, 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
NBA Odds: Timberwolves -1.5, O/U 229
Timberwolves vs. Lakers TV Coverage: TNT
The Lakers are coming off a blowout loss to Golden State on Monday, but they will be getting some players back. Rondo is expected to play on Thursday. "I think Rondo will play Thursday as long as he continues to move with no setbacks until then, but that will be something that we'll keep pushing him and we'll re-evaluate each morning," Lakers coach Luke Walton said to the media.
Rondo has been out for the past 14 games and his loss, especially combined with the loss of LeBron, has made it difficult for Los Angeles to win games. Rondo has only played in 14 of 48 games this season for the Lakers. The Lakers need Rondo back in the lineup, especially since Ball will miss at least the next month with a sprained ankle.
James has missed the past 14 games, but he has been practicing and is close to returning. Walton said James probably won’t play on Thursday. "I haven't seen him do contact yet, so I don't feel as confident," Walton said recently to the media, "But I know you know how serious he is about his rehab. So he's doing everything possible and we've talked. I know he's dying to get back on the basketball court, but he also knows that getting healthy is the top priority. So whenever that day comes, he'll be back out there, but I would say right now I feel more confident about Rondo being ready for Thursday." The Lakers are 5-9 without LeBron in the lineup.
Players are ready for both Rondo and James to return. "It gives us a leader, a leader on the basketball floor," Brandon Ingram said about Rondo. "Puts us in our spots on the offensive end. Pushes the pace, he can score the basketball. And it just makes our team better."
Matchup Numbers
The Timberwolves are coming off a good win at Phoenix on Tuesday night. The Timberwolves are 10-13 ATS on the road this season, with 11 games going over and 12 going under. They are averaging just over 111 points per game and giving up just over 111 per contest.
The Lakers are just 9-14-2 ATS at home, with seven games going over, 17 games going under, with one push. They are averaging about 112 points per game and giving up about 112 per contest.
The Timberwolves are 2-1 against the Lakers this season.
Key Stats
The Timberwolves are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings against the Lakers. The Timberwolves are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following an ATS win. The Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Northwest.
Looking at the total, the Over is 8-1 in the Timberwolves last 9 road games. The Under is 8-3 in the Timberwolves last 11 vs. the Pacific. The Under is 5-1 in the Lakers last 6 vs. the Northwest. The Under is 18-7-1 in the Lakers last 26 home games.

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