Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Prediction, NBA Odds
It will be a crucial contest for playoff positioning in the Western Conference when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. Both teams are clinging to an automatic postseason spot, with Denver fifth in the West at 38-24 and Los Angeles just a half-game back in sixth at 37-24. Both clubs are a modest 5-5 in their last 10 contests, but the Lakers have won three in a row heading into this showdown.
This marks the second of just three regular-season meetings between these conference rivals. They previously squared off on January 20 in Denver, where the Lakers prevailed 115-107. Notably, however, the Nuggets were without Nikola Jokic in that contest.
Lakers vs. Nuggets NBA Betting Odds
Because they were missing Jokic, it was the Nuggets who were underdogs last time – getting three points despite playing at home. Now that the star big man is back, the script has more than flipped with Denver coming in as a -5.5 favourite on the NBA odds.
Los Angeles is 3-0 against the spread in its last four overall and 4-0 ATS in the last four head-to-head matchups. Denver is 1-4 ATS in its last five home games. As for the over/under, the under is 5-1 in the Lakers’ past six contests and 7-3 in their last 10 against Denver. However, the over is 2-5 in the Nuggets’ last seven overall.
Los Angeles Lakers
There is a whole lot of talk about the Lakers’ shortcomings and where LeBron James should eventually go to title chase at the end of his career, but they are quietly armed with a clean bill of health and playing good basketball right now. Nobody on the active roster other than Maxi Kleber (2.2 points per game) has any kind of injury designation. LeBron and company have won three games in a row by 28 points (Golden State), 24 (Sacramento) and nine (New Orleans).
Luke Doncic has led the team in scoring on seven straight occasions, including a 41-point effort against Phoenix last Thursday. He delivered 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists against the Pelicans on Tuesday.
Denver Nuggets
Aaron Gordon (17.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg) has not played since January 23 due to a hamstring injury and is out for today’s contest. He is aiming for a Friday return against New York. The Nuggets are also missing Spencer Jones (shoulder). Gordon’s absence has obviously hurt. The Nuggets were 6-1 in their last seven games in which the veteran forward played; they are 7-9 in 16 contests since he went down.
Fortunately for the Nuggets, the usual suspects are picking up the slack. Jokic has delivered five consecutive double-doubles, a stretch that includes two triple-doubles. Jamal Murray is averaging 36.3 ppg over the past three outings after exploding for 45 points on 8-for-13 shooting from three-point range during Monday’s 128-125 victory over Utah. Murray is 17-for-32 from deep in the last three games.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Nuggets?
The Lakers won by eight points when they paid a visit to Denver earlier this season. It is true that the Nuggets did not have Jokic at their disposal, but they did have Gordon and L.A. was without Austin Reaves. It was an impressive performance by the visitors regardless of the situation – and it’s one that can be replicated. You can definitely make the argument that a healthy and in-form Los Angeles squad should not be getting 5.5 points. In fact, an outright upset is well within reason. Let’s go with Lakers 122, Nuggets 120.
LAL
DEN