The Lakers are playing the final of a three-game road trip. They started the trip with a new teammate, Isaiah Thomas, and the four-game win streak they had going was quickly wiped away with losses at Dallas on Saturday and New Orleans on Wednesday. The Lakers are 2-6 ATS this season with no rest. Their last two went Over because they played no defense and Minnesota will welcome this approach. Over is the top play Thursday.

The Lakers' defense is collapsing -- they gave up 139 points in New Orleans on Wednesday -- and now they have to face an angry, rested and gifted group of Timberwolves. Minnesota couldn't handle Houston last time out, but this is a much lesser challenge. The T-Wolves already have beaten the Lakers by 18 and 17 points this season. And LA is 0-5 ATS playing on zero rest. Lay it.

The SportsLine Projection Model sees a maximum of 218 points hitting the board Thursday between the Lakers and Timberwolves, allowing a solid position on the Under. Los Angeles has played Under in four of its past five, and the Under is on a 9-4 run for Minnesota in Thursday games.