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The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers are meeting in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, with Game 2 up next.
The Nuggets are a 7.5-point favorite against the Lakers when the Nuggets and the Lakers square off. The matchup’s point total is set at 223.5.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Odds
Point Spread for Nuggets vs. Lakers
The spread for this matchup is set at 7.5 points, with sportsbooks listing the Nuggets as the favorite.
Denver vs. Los Angeles Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Denver has -305 odds to win the game, while Los Angeles is listed at +245 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the over/under for the game is set at 223.5 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- When: Monday, April 22, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
- Where: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado
- TV: TNT
Nuggets vs. Lakers Betting Trends
The Nuggets have gone 38-42-2 against the spread this season. This season, Denver has won 53 out of the 72 games, or 73.6%, in which it has been favored. Nuggets games have gone over the total 35 times this season.
The Lakers have put together a 38-44-0 record against the spread this season. Los Angeles has been an underdog in 35 games this season and has come away with the win 15 times (42.9%) in those contests. This season, 47 of the Lakers’ games have gone over the point total.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Key Players to Watch
Nuggets
Nikola Jokic puts up 26.4 points, 12.4 boards and 9.0 assists per contest. At the other end, he averages 1.4 steals (seventh in NBA) and 0.9 blocks. Michael Porter Jr. is posting 16.7 points, 1.5 assists and 7.0 boards per contest. Jamal Murray’s numbers on the season are 21.2 points, 4.1 boards and 6.5 assists per contest, shooting 48.1% from the field and 42.5% from downtown (10th in NBA), with 2.5 made 3-pointers per game. Aaron Gordon posts 13.9 points, 6.5 boards and 3.5 assists per game. Defensively, he averages 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks.
Lakers
Anthony Davis averages 24.7 points, 12.6 boards and 3.5 assists, making 55.6% of his shots from the field. LeBron James contributes with 25.7 points per game, plus 7.3 boards and 8.3 assists. The Lakers receive 18.0 points, 3.1 boards and 6.3 assists per game from D’Angelo Russell. Austin Reaves gets the Lakers 15.9 points, 4.3 boards and 5.5 assists per contest, plus 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks.
What you need to know about the Nuggets
The Nuggets are averaging 114.9 points per game (14th-ranked in NBA) this year, while giving up 109.6 points per contest (sixth-ranked). This season, the Nuggets are averaging 44.4 rebounds per game (seventh-ranked in NBA) and ceding 42.3 rebounds per contest (seventh-ranked). The Nuggets have been piling up assists in 2023-24, ranking third-best in the NBA with 29.5 dimes per game.
Denver is scoring 118.5 points per game this season at home, which is 7.3 more points than it is averaging on the road (111.2). Denver is sinking 11.7 treys per game (25th-ranked in league). It has a 37.4% shooting percentage (ninth-ranked) from beyond the arc. Denver ranks second-best in the NBA by giving up 11.2 three-pointers per game. In terms of three-point percentage allowed, it ranks eighth in the league at 35.5%.
The Nuggets have a 6-4 record against the spread while finishing 7-3 overall over their past 10 contests. In its past 10 games, Denver has gone over the total five times. In their last 10 games, the Nuggets have been scoring 116.7 points per contest, an average that’s slightly higher than the 114.9 they’ve scored over the course of the 2023-24 season. Denver’s defense has been tough as of late, as the team has given up 106.6 points per game over its past 10 compared to the 109.6 points per game its opponents average this season.
What you need to know about the Lakers
At 118.0 points scored per game and 117.4 points allowed, the Lakers are sixth in the league offensively and 23rd on defense. Los Angeles is 18th in the league in rebounds per game (43.1) and 18th in rebounds allowed (44.0). The Lakers are fifth-best in the league in assists (28.5 per game) in 2023-24.
The Lakers score 119.0 points per game at home, and 117.0 on the road. Beyond the arc, the Lakers are 24th in the league in 3-pointers made per game (11.8). They are eighth in 3-point percentage at 37.7%. Los Angeles is the third-worst team in the league in 3-pointers conceded (14.3 per game) and 24th in 3-point percentage defensively (37.6%).
The Lakers have gone 6-4 over their last 10 contests, with a 4-6 record against the spread in that span. Los Angeles has gone over the total in six of its past 10 games. In its previous 10 games, Los Angeles is putting up 116.2 points per contest, 1.8 fewer points than its season average (118.0). While the Lakers are giving up 117.4 points per game in 2023-24, they have improved that mark over their past 10 games, allowing 114.4 points per contest.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Prediction & Pick
Our pick to win this contest is Nuggets, and we predict that Nuggets will cover the spread (Nuggets -7.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 223.5 points.
How to bet Nuggets vs. Lakers
You can bet on Denver vs. Los Angeles at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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