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The Los Angeles Lakers (43-39) are looking to pull off an upset as 5.5-point underdogs for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, and will face off against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Thursday, starting at 8:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Nuggets are up 1-0 in the series. A 226.5-point over/under has been set in this matchup.
How to bet Nuggets vs. Lakers
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds
Point Spread
The spread for this matchup is set at 5.5 points, with bookmakers listing the Nuggets as the favorites.
Moneyline
As for the moneyline, the Nuggets have -215 odds to pick up the win, while the Lakers are listed at +177 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 226.5 points.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Game Time and How to Watch
- Game Day: Thursday, May 18, 2023
- Game Time: 8:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Arena: Ball Arena
Nuggets vs. Lakers Betting Trends
The Nuggets are 44-36-2 against the spread this year. Denver has been victorious in 43, or 70.5%, of the 61 contests it has been chosen as favorites in this season. Nuggets games this year have eclipsed the over/under 37 times in 82 opportunities (45.1%).
The Lakers are 40-39-3 against the spread this year. Los Angeles has won 23 of the 51 games it was the underdog on the moneyline this season (45.1%). The Lakers have eclipsed the over/under 52.4% of the time this year (43 of 82 games with a set point total).
Potential Starting Lineups and Key Players
Nuggets
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | 69 | 24.5 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Jamal Murray | 65 | 20 | 4 | 6.2 | 1 | 0.2 | 2.6 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 62 | 17.4 | 5.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 3 |
| Aaron Gordon | 68 | 16.3 | 6.6 | 3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Bruce Brown | 80 | 11.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
Lakers
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 55 | 28.9 | 8.3 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.2 |
| Anthony Davis | 56 | 25.9 | 12.5 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 2 | 0.3 |
| D’Angelo Russell | 71 | 17.8 | 3 | 6.2 | 1 | 0.4 | 2.7 |
| Austin Reaves | 64 | 13 | 3 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| Malik Beasley | 81 | 12.7 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.9 |
Nuggets vs. Lakers Injury Report
Lakers: Mohamed Bamba: Out (Ankle)
What you need to know about the Denver Nuggets
Denver ranks 12th in the NBA with 115.8 points per game this season. At the other end of the court, it ranks eighth with 112.5 points allowed per game. The Nuggets are scoring 119.4 points per game in home games. Away from home, they are averaging 112.2 points per contest. The Nuggets’ offense has been better over their last 10 games, putting up 117.5 points per contest compared to the 115.8 they’ve averaged this year.
Denver is sinking 11.8 treys per game this season (18th-ranked in NBA), and it has a 37.9% three-point percentage (fourth-best). When it comes to shot breakdown, the Nuggets have taken 63.9% two-pointers (accounting for 72.9% of the team’s buckets) and 36.1% from beyond the arc (27.1%).
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Lakers
Offensively Los Angeles is the sixth-ranked squad in the NBA (117.2 points per game). Defensively it is 20th (116.6 points allowed per game). The Lakers score 117 points per game at home, and 117.3 on the road. The Lakers are putting up 114.3 points per game over their last 10 games, which is 2.9 fewer points than their average for the season (117.2).
Los Angeles makes 10.8 3-pointers per game and shoots 34.6% from beyond the arc, ranking 24th and 24th, respectively, in the NBA. The Lakers attempt 35% percent of their shots from beyond the arc, and 25.2% of their made baskets are from there. Inside the arc, they attempt 65% of their shots, with 74.8% of their makes coming from there.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Predictions and Pick
You can bet on Nuggets vs. Lakers at every legal online sportsbook. For more NBA odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals as well as NBA prop odds, check out the latest NBA lines as well as our guide to the best NBA betting sites.
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