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The Denver Nuggets will take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.
The Nuggets are a 7-point favorite against the Lakers when the Nuggets and the Lakers square off. The game’s over/under is set at 226.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Odds
Point Spread for Nuggets vs. Lakers
The spread for this matchup is set at 7 points, with sportsbooks listing the Nuggets as the favorite.
Denver vs. Los Angeles Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Denver has -278 odds to win the game, while Los Angeles is listed at +225 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the over/under for the game is set at 226 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- When: Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 8:30 PM ET
- Where: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado
- TV: ABC
Nuggets vs. Lakers Betting Trends
The Nuggets have covered the spread 38 times over 82 games with a set spread. Denver has entered the game as favorites 72 times this season and won 53, or 73.6%, of those games. This season, 35 of the Nuggets’ games have gone over the point total.
The Lakers are 38-44-0 against the spread this year. Los Angeles has been chosen as underdogs in 35 games this year and has walked away with the win 15 times (42.9%) in those games. Lakers games have finished with a final combined score above the over/under 47 times this season.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Key Players to Watch
Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is posting 26.4 points, 9.0 assists and 12.4 boards per game. Michael Porter Jr. puts up 16.7 points, 7.0 boards and 1.5 assists per game. Defensively, he averages 0.5 steals and 0.7 blocks. Jamal Murray averages 21.2 points, 4.1 boards and 6.5 assists per contest. Defensively, he averages 1.0 steal and 0.7 blocks. Aaron Gordon posts 13.9 points, 6.5 boards and 3.5 assists per contest, shooting 55.6% from the floor.
Lakers
Anthony Davis averages 24.7 points, 12.6 boards and 3.5 assists, making 55.6% of his shots from the floor. LeBron James provides 25.7 points, 7.3 boards and 8.3 assists per game, plus 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks. D’Angelo Russell gets the Lakers 18.0 points, 3.1 boards and 6.3 assists per game, plus 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks. The Lakers get 15.9 points per game from Austin Reaves, plus 4.3 boards and 5.5 assists.
What you need to know about the Nuggets
With 114.9 points per game on offense, the Nuggets are 14th in the NBA. On defense, they surrender 109.6 points per contest, which ranks sixth in the league. The Nuggets are grabbing 44.4 boards per game (seventh-ranked in NBA) this season, while allowing 42.3 rebounds per contest (seventh-ranked). The Nuggets have been one of the top teams in the league when it comes to assists, as they are delivering 29.5 per game (third-best in NBA).
Denver is scoring 118.5 points per game when playing at home. When playing on the road, it is averaging 111.2 points per contest. Denver is making 11.7 treys per game (25th-ranked in NBA) this year, while sporting a 37.4% three-point percentage (ninth-ranked). Denver is allowing opponents to put up a 35.5% three-point percentage this season (eighth-ranked in NBA), but it has provided a lift by giving up only 11.2 treys per contest (second-best).
The Nuggets are 5-5 against the spread and 6-4 overall over their last 10 games. Five of Denver’s past 10 contests have gone over the total. On the offensive side of the ball, the Nuggets have picked up their production a little bit over their last 10 games, scoring 115.0 points per contest over that stretch compared to the 114.9 they’ve put up over the course of this year. The last 10 games have seen Denver concede 2.9 fewer points per game (106.7) than its season-long average (109.6).
What you need to know about the Lakers
In 2023-24, the Lakers are sixth in the NBA on offense (118.0 points scored per game) and 23rd defensively (117.4 points conceded). In 2023-24, Los Angeles is 18th in the league in rebounds (43.1 per game) and 18th in rebounds allowed (44.0). The Lakers are fifth-best in the NBA in assists (28.5 per game) in 2023-24.
At home, the Lakers average 119.0 points per game. On the road, they average 117.0. With 11.8 made 3-pointers per game and shooting 37.7% from beyond the arc, the Lakers are 24th and eighth in the NBA, respectively, in those categories. Defensively, Los Angeles is third-worst in the league in 3-pointers allowed per game at 14.3. It is 24th in 3-point percentage conceded at 37.6%.
The Lakers are 5-5 against the spread and 7-3 overall in their past 10 games. In its past 10 contests, Los Angeles has gone over the total seven times. Los Angeles is putting up 119.5 points per contest over its past 10 games, which is 1.5 more than its average for the season (118.0). In their previous 10 games, the Lakers are giving up 115.4 points per contest, compared to their season average of 117.4 points allowed.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Prediction & Pick
Our prediction to win this game is Nuggets, and we expect that Nuggets will cover the spread (Nuggets -7). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 226 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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