It’s the conclusion of a four-game road trip for L.A. in which they are 0-3, losing 126-106 at Milwaukee last night. The Lakers remain without LeBron James, and now Jaxson Hayes (knee) and Rui Hachimura (patellar) have been ruled out for Friday’s back-to-back. 

It’s a prime opportunity for Denver, currently two games up on the Lakers, to create some space at the top of the Western Conference. The Nuggets are 5-5 in their last 10 outings but remain 42-24 on the season and tied for second in the West. L.A.’s at 40-24 after this trio of losses, sitting tied for fourth in the West.

Tip-off at Ball Arena goes at 9:30 p.m. EDT with the Nuggets opening as 13.5-point favourites on home court and the over-under at 232.5 on the NBA odds.

Lakers vs. Nuggets NBA Betting Odds

Yesterday’s loss dropped the Lakers to 15-17 on the road this season. Going to Denver isn’t any help for the reeling Lakers either, as they are 2-13 in their last 15 visits to Denver and 4-8 ATS in their last 12 at Denver. The last six straight Lakers–Nuggets contests played in Denver have gone under the total. Friday’s the third of four regular season meetings between these clubs; the season series is 1-1 — a 127-102 Denver win on November 23 and 123-100 Lakers victory on February 22.

Covering the double-digit spread isn’t an easy task regardless of the opponent, but if Denver can blow out L.A. it’ll improve the former’s rough ATS record as of late. Denver has failed to cover in five straight home outings and are 1-5 ATS overall in their last six games.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers got their answer yesterday to whether Luka Doncic can carry them without LeBron playing, and the answer is no. Doncic, listed as questionable with an ankle, dropped 45 points and 11 rebounds in yesterday’s 20-point loss at Milwaukee. Austin Reaves finished with 28 points and after that, no other Lakers player scored over 10 points. The Lakers kept allowing Milwaukee to get to the line, resulting in 27 points via free throws for Milwaukee. Being injured and on a back-to-back probably means the Lakers won’t be able to limit that number at Denver.

The other potential offensive weapon for the Lakers right now is likely rookie Dalton Knecht. The 23-year-old’s finished in double digits in scoring in five of six games this month and started on Monday at Brooklyn. Expect the rookie to get lots of playing time at Denver. 

Denver Nuggets

Back on February 22, the Lakers ended a nine-game win streak for the Nuggets. Since then, Denver’s flipped back and forth between wins and losses and are 5-5 in their last 10 showings. The last week’s been full of highs and lows too — starting with Nikola Jokic’s unbelievable 31-point, 21-rebound, 22-assist performance last Friday to a 20-point home loss on Wednesday. 

The 115-95 defeat to Minnesota was a night where the Nuggets, aside from Jokic, started off cold and couldn’t cover. Jokic still finished with a game-high 34 points but the remaining Nuggets starters shot 18 for 47 from the field, and Denver’s bench isn’t contributing much. If the Nuggets can find their groove against a wounded Lakers squad, it could be a rare chance for Denver’s bench to pop off though.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Nuggets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

LAL

Points	Luka Doncic 28.18
Assists	LeBron James 8.21
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 11.88
FG%	Jaxson Hayes 72.2
Steals	Luka Doncic 1.61
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.14

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 29.59
Assists	Nikola Jokic 10.23
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 12.74
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 65
Steals	Nikola Jokic 1.81
Blocks	Peyton Watson 1.37

LAL

Points	Luka Doncic 34
Assists	LeBron James 5
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 10
FG%	Dalton Knecht 50
Steals	LeBron James 1.5
Blocks	LeBron James 2

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 27.5
Assists	Nikola Jokic 11
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 10
FG%	Jalen Pickett 66.7
Steals	Nikola Jokic 3
Blocks	Nikola Jokic 0.5

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nuggets Team Leaders

LAL

Points	Luka Doncic 28.18
Assists	LeBron James 8.21
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 11.88
FG%	Jaxson Hayes 72.2
Steals	Luka Doncic 1.61
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.14

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 29.59
Assists	Nikola Jokic 10.23
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 12.74
FG%	DeAndre Jordan 65
Steals	Nikola Jokic 1.81
Blocks	Peyton Watson 1.37

LAL

Points	Luka Doncic 34
Assists	LeBron James 5
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 10
FG%	Dalton Knecht 50
Steals	LeBron James 1.5
Blocks	LeBron James 2

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 27.5
Assists	Nikola Jokic 11
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 10
FG%	Jalen Pickett 66.7
Steals	Nikola Jokic 3
Blocks	Nikola Jokic 0.5

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Rui Hachimura (PF)

Ques Sat Knee - 13 / 04 / 25

Jaxson Hayes (C)

Ques Sat Hand - 13 / 04 / 25

Austin Reaves (PG)

Ques Sat Ankle - 13 / 04 / 25

Jarred Vanderbilt (SF)

Ques Sat Foot - 13 / 04 / 25

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Ques Sat Knee - 13 / 04 / 25

Jordan Goodwin (PG)

Prob Sun Foot - 13 / 04 / 25

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 13 / 04 / 25

Luka Doncic (SF)

Ques Sat Quadricep - 13 / 04 / 25

Mark Williams (C)

Out Sun Foot - 12 / 04 / 25

Jaxson Hayes (C)

Ques Wed Hand - 09 / 04 / 25

Denver

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Prob Mon Calf - 20 / 04 / 25

Jamal Murray (SG)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 12 / 04 / 25

Christian Braun (SG)

Prob Fri Foot - 02 / 04 / 25

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Prob Fri Calf - 02 / 04 / 25

Peyton Watson (SG)

Ques Fri Knee - 02 / 04 / 25

Michael Porter Jr. (PF)

Ques Fri Personal - 01 / 04 / 25

Christian Braun (SG)

Prob Tues Foot - 31 / 03 / 25

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Ques Tues Illness - 31 / 03 / 25

Christian Braun (SG)

Prob Fri Foot - 27 / 03 / 25

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Prob Fri Calf - 27 / 03 / 25

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Rui Hachimura (PF)	Ques Sat	Knee - 13 / 04 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Hachimura is nursing with left patellar tendinopathy, and it is up in the air if he will take the court for the Round 1 game against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Jaxson Hayes (C)	Ques Sat	Hand - 13 / 04 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Hayes is dealing with a right-hand contusion, and it remains to be seen if he will dress for the Round 1 game against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Austin Reaves (PG)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 13 / 04 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Reaves is fighting off with a right ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action for the Round 1 game against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Jarred Vanderbilt (SF)	Ques Sat	Foot - 13 / 04 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Vanderbilt is hampered with a left foot injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up for the Round 1 game against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Ques Sat	Knee - 13 / 04 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Vincent is batting with a left knee effusion, and it is uncertain if he will dress for the Round 1 game against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Jordan Goodwin (PG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 13 / 04 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Goodwin is nursing with due to right plantar fasciitis, but he is likely to play Sunday's game against Trail Blazers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 13 / 04 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Finney-Smith is bothered by a left ankle effusion, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for the Round 1 game against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Luka Doncic (SF)	Ques Sat	Quadricep - 13 / 04 / 25	1-2	1-2	+ -
Doncic is dealing with left quadriceps soreness, and it is unclear if he will participate for the Round 1 game against the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Mark Williams (C)	Out Sun	Foot - 12 / 04 / 25	2-2	1-3	+ -
Williams is nursing a left foot injury, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action against the Celtics on Sunday.
Jaxson Hayes (C)	Ques Wed	Hand - 09 / 04 / 25	2-3	2-3	+ -
Hayes has injured his hand, and it is unclear if he will be available against the Lakers on Wednesday.

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Prob Mon	Calf - 20 / 04 / 25	0-1	0-1	+ -
Gordon is battling with a right calf injury, but he is projected to be active for playoffs round Game 2 against the Clippers on Monday.
Jamal Murray (SG)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 12 / 04 / 25	3-1	2-2	+ -
Murray is dealing with a right hamstring inflammation, but he is likely to face Rockets on Sunday.
Christian Braun (SG)	Prob Fri	Foot - 02 / 04 / 25	4-5	4-5	+ -
Braun is dealing with a foot injury, but he is projected to be in Friday's lineup against the Warriors.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Prob Fri	Calf - 02 / 04 / 25	4-5	4-5	+ -
Gordon is tending to a calf injury, but he is expected to be active against the Warriors on Friday.
Peyton Watson (SG)	Ques Fri	Knee - 02 / 04 / 25	4-5	4-5	+ -
Watson is bothered by a ight knee inflammation, and it is unknown if he will be available against the Warriors on Friday.
Michael Porter Jr. (PF)	Ques Fri	Personal - 01 / 04 / 25	4-5	4-5	+ -
Porter Jr. has been out of lineup due to an personal reasons, and it is undermined if he will play Friday's game against the Warriors.
Christian Braun (SG)	Prob Tues	Foot - 31 / 03 / 25	4-5	4-5	+ -
Braun is hobbled by a foot injury, but he is expected to be available against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Ques Tues	Illness - 31 / 03 / 25	4-5	4-5	+ -
Gordon is ailing from illness, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Christian Braun (SG)	Prob Fri	Foot - 27 / 03 / 25	4-7	6-5	+ -
Braun is nursing with a foot injury, but he is expected to face the Jazz on Friday.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Prob Fri	Calf - 27 / 03 / 25	4-7	6-5	+ -
Gordon is dealing with a calf injury, but he is likely to play Friday versus Jazz.