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The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets are meeting in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, with Game 3 next to come.
The Lakers are only a 1-point favorite when they and the Nuggets hit the court in a game oddsmakers expect to be a close matchup. The game’s over/under is set at 217.
Lakers vs. Nuggets Odds
Point Spread for Lakers vs. Nuggets
The spread for this matchup is set at 1 point, with sportsbooks listing the Lakers as the favorite.
Los Angeles vs. Denver Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Los Angeles has -115 odds to win the game, while Denver is listed at -105 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 217 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- When: Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
- Where: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California
- TV: TNT
Lakers vs. Nuggets Betting Trends
The Lakers are 38-44-0 against the spread this season. Los Angeles has won 32, or 69.6%, of the 46 games it has played as the favorite this season. This season, Lakers games have hit the over 47 times.
The Nuggets are 38-42-2 against the spread this year. Denver has been chosen as underdogs in 10 games this year and has walked away with the win four times (40%) in those games. This season, 35 of the Nuggets’ games have gone over the point total.
Lakers vs. Nuggets Key Players to Watch
Lakers
Anthony Davis puts up 24.7 points, 12.6 boards and 3.5 assists per contest. At the other end, he averages 1.2 steals and 2.3 blocks (fourth in league). LeBron James averages 25.7 points, 7.3 boards and 8.3 assists per contest, shooting 54.0% from the field and 41.0% from beyond the arc, with 2.1 made 3-pointers per contest. D’Angelo Russell is putting up 18.0 points, 6.3 assists and 3.1 boards per game. Austin Reaves is averaging 15.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 boards per game.
Nuggets
Nikola Jokic gives the Nuggets 26.4 points, 12.4 boards and 9.0 assists per contest. He also averages 1.4 steals (seventh in NBA) and 0.9 blocks. Michael Porter Jr. contributes with 16.7 points per game, plus 7.0 boards and 1.5 assists. Jamal Murray gives the Nuggets 21.2 points, 4.1 boards and 6.5 assists per contest, plus 1.0 steal and 0.7 blocks. The Nuggets get 13.9 points, 6.5 boards and 3.5 assists per game from Aaron Gordon.
What you need to know about the Lakers
Offensively, the Lakers are scoring 118.0 points per game (sixth-ranked in league). They are ceding 117.4 points per contest at the other end of the court (23rd-ranked). The Lakers are pulling down 43.1 boards per game (18th-ranked in NBA) this year, while allowing 44.0 rebounds per contest (18th-ranked). With 28.5 dimes per game, the Lakers are fifth-best in the league in the category.
In home games, Los Angeles is posting 2.0 more points per game (119.0) than it is when playing on the road (117.0). Los Angeles is 24th in the NBA with 11.8 threes per game so far this year. Meanwhile, it ranks eighth with a 37.7% shooting percentage from three-point land. Los Angeles is allowing 14.3 threes per game (third-worst in NBA), and it is allowing a 37.6% three-point percentage (24th-ranked) to its opponents.
The Lakers have gone 6-4 in their last 10 contests, with a 5-5 record against the spread in that span. Los Angeles has gone over the total in six of its last 10 outings. On the offensive side of the ball, the Lakers have had a hard time putting the ball in the basket over their last 10 games, scoring 117.1 points per contest over that stretch as opposed to the 118.0 they’ve racked up over the course of this year. Los Angeles’ points-allowed average over its past 10 games (113.6) is 3.8 fewer points per game than the team is allowing over the entire season (117.4).
What you need to know about the Nuggets
With 114.9 points scored per game and 109.6 points conceded, the Nuggets are 14th in the NBA offensively and sixth on defense. Denver collects 44.4 rebounds per game and give up 42.3 boards, ranking seventh and seventh, respectively, in the NBA. With 29.5 assists per game, the Nuggets are third-best in the league.
At home the Nuggets are scoring 118.5 points per game, 7.3 more than they are averaging on the road (111.2). The Nuggets are 25th in the league in 3-pointers made (11.7 per game) and ninth in 3-point percentage (37.4%). Defensively, Denver is second-best in the league in 3-pointers allowed per game at 11.2. It is eighth in 3-point percentage allowed at 35.5%.
The Nuggets have a 6-4 record against the spread while finishing 8-2 overall in their last 10 games. In its past 10 contests, Denver has hit the over five times. Denver is tallying 117.0 points per game in its last 10 games, compared to its season average of 114.9. Over their past 10 games, the Nuggets are surrendering 105.4 points per contest, compared to their season average of 109.6 points allowed.
Lakers vs. Nuggets Prediction & Pick
Our prediction to win this game is Nuggets, and we project that Nuggets will cover the spread (Lakers -1). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 217 points.
How to bet Lakers vs. Nuggets
You can bet on Los Angeles vs. Denver 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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