The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves meet for a potential series-deciding game on Wednesday night.
The pregame narrative: After splitting the first two games, Minnesota took care of business at home and now has Los Angeles on the brink of elimination. I’m looking for each team’s shooting guard — Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves — to produce.
Check out my Timberwolves vs. Lakers prop picks for Game 5 of the opening round.
Timberwolves vs. Lakers prop picks
Best Bet: Edwards over 6.5 rebounds (+104)
Edwards flexed his scoring muscles on Sunday, exploding for 43 points. He also secured nine rebounds, which isn’t as flashy but just as important in a 3-point win.
Playing with hustle is a prerequisite to being a great rebounder, and Edward has that in spades. Take a look at what he’s done over the past two postseasons on the glass:
- 7.2 rebounds/game
- 5+ rebounds in 17 of 20 games
- 7+ rebounds in 12 of 20 games
Every inch of the court should be contested in Game 5, including under the basket.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Edwards isn’t a giant. But neither is anyone getting big minutes for L.A., and Edwards has a superhuman vertical that allows him to literally rise above the competition.
He’s cleared this line in three of four games this series while landing on six rebounds in the outlier.
Key stat: Los Angeles allowed the seventh-most rebounds per game to shooting guards over the last 30 days of the regular season, according to Fantasy Pros.
Game 5 prop prediction
Reaves over 28.5 PRA (-118): Reaves has really blossomed into a special player for the Lakers.
The undrafted shooting guard posted career highs in points (20.2), rebounds (4.5) and assists (5.8) this season, with efficient 3-point shooting and stingy defence.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James are the top dogs in L.A., but Reaves is the type of player who can push a team into championship territory.
He’s 1-3 against this line so far, but finished with exactly 28 PRA in Game 4. And he only played 35 minutes after getting into foul trouble.
Back on home court, I’m expecting a tidier game from the playoff-seasoned guard.
I’m also encouraged to see that Reaves’ 3-point volume — and efficiency — went way up on the road.
- Games 1 & 2: 3-of-14 from deep
- Games 3 & 4: 10-of-23 from deep
Scoring is the easiest way to rack up counting stats, and I’m banking on Reaves continuing to help in other ways. He’s had 10-plus rebounds and assists in three straight games.
Timberwolves vs. Lakers prop picks made at 4:16 p.m. ET 04/29/2025.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.