The Los Angeles Lakers try to snap a five-game losing streak and salvage their rapidly fading playoff hopes when they host the Denver Nuggets on Sunday afternoon. The Lakers are now winless in three dates after dropping a 114-111 decision to New Orleans on Friday, and enter Sunday’s action one game back of San Antonio for the 10^th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are coming off a 136-130 home loss to Minnesota, but have earned the win in nine of their past 10 road dates.

The Nuggets arrive in Los Angeles perched as 3-point favourites, while the Lakers lag as +131 moneyline underdogs, and the total is pegged at 231.0.

Nuggets vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds

Sunday afternoon’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena marks the second of three regular season meetings between these Western Conference rivals. The Nuggets romped to a crushing 133-96 win when the Lakers visited Denver on January 15, and have now claimed victory in two of their past three clashes. However, the Lakers have been steady when hosting the Nuggets, winning three straight and seven of their past nine. That run includes four outright victories as home underdogs, capped by a 93-89 win in Denver’s last visit in May 2021. While the OVER has prevailed in four of their past six overall clashes, recent dates in LA have tended towards low scoring, with the UNDER going 4-2-1 in their past seven.

With Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves, the Nuggets are now winless in two straight when scoring 130 points on home court. However, Denver has played much stingier ball on the road, surrendering just 109.2 points per game during a 9-1 straight up run. While their strong defensive play has contributed to their steady 12-4 against the spread run away from Ball Arena, the Nuggets have covered just twice in their past five as road chalk. The Lakers epic swoon continued on Friday, with the club blowing a six-point lead in the final frame on the way to their 17^th loss in 22 contests. Despite their recent dismal performance, the Lakers have gone a respectable 6-6 against the spread over their past 12 home dates, and have won outright in five of 10 when pegged as home underdogs by fewer than six points.

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic further strengthened his bid to repeat as NBA MVP with another spectacular performance in Friday’s loss to Minnesota. The Nuggets big man tallied a game-high 38 points, and recorded 19 rebounds for the second time in three outings. Jokic has mustered 17 or fewer points in two of his past three trips to LA, but has recorded triple doubles on two times over that stretch.

Los Angeles Lakers

Injuries remain a concern for the Lakers. LeBron James continued to carry a feeble Lakers attack with a 38-point performance versus New Orleans. However, he continues to be hobbled by a nagging ankle injury that leaves him questionable for Sunday’s contest. Anthony Davis tallied 23 points and 12 boards in his first appearance in six weeks, but continues to struggle through his ankle injury. However, the club expects Carmelo Anthony back in the lineup after he missed Friday’s game due to an unspecified illness.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Nuggets vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Nuggets Team Leaders

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 27.08
Assists	Nikola Jokic 7.89
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 13.77
FG%	Nikola Jokic 58.3
Steals	Nikola Jokic 1.47
Blocks	Nikola Jokic 0.85

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 31
Assists	Nikola Jokic 5.8
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 13.2
FG%	Zeke Nnaji 100
Steals	Nikola Jokic 1.6
Blocks	Aaron Gordon 1.2

LAL

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 27.08
Assists	Nikola Jokic 7.89
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 13.77
FG%	Nikola Jokic 58.3
Steals	Nikola Jokic 1.47
Blocks	Nikola Jokic 0.85

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

DEN

Points	Nikola Jokic 31
Assists	Nikola Jokic 5.8
Rebounds	Nikola Jokic 13.2
FG%	Zeke Nnaji 100
Steals	Nikola Jokic 1.6
Blocks	Aaron Gordon 1.2

LAL

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Denver

Austin Rivers (PG)

day-to-day Hamstring - 27 / 04 / 22

Austin Rivers (PG)

Ques Thurs Back - 19 / 04 / 22

Facundo Campazzo (PG)

Elig Mon Suspension - 13 / 04 / 22

Will Barton (SG)

Ques Sat Knee - 09 / 04 / 22

Aaron Gordon (PF)

Prob Sat Hamstring - 09 / 04 / 22

Monte Morris (PG)

Ques Sat Elbow - 09 / 04 / 22

Jamal Murray (SG)

out for season Knee - 08 / 04 / 22

Rodney McGruder (SG)

Prob Fri Hip - 06 / 04 / 22

Will Barton (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 03 / 04 / 22

Jeff Green (SF)

Ques Thurs Personal - 02 / 04 / 22

L.A. Lakers

Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)

day-to-day Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22

Dwight Howard (C)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Out Sun Illness - 07 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Out Sun Foot - 06 / 04 / 22

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Out Sun Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 04 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sun Foot - 02 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 01 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22

Injuries

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Austin Rivers (PG)	day-to-day	Hamstring - 27 / 04 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Rivers exited Wednesday's game with right hamstring tightness, and it is unknown if he will return.
Austin Rivers (PG)	Ques Thurs	Back - 19 / 04 / 22	1-3	4-0	+ -
Rivers is battling lower-back pain, and it is uncertain if he will play in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Warriors.
Facundo Campazzo (PG)	Elig Mon	Suspension - 13 / 04 / 22	1-4	5-0	+ -
Campazzo has been given a one-game suspension for a forceful shoving, and he is not eligible to suit up until Game 2 of the Western Conference first round versus the Warriors.
Will Barton (SG)	Ques Sat	Knee - 09 / 04 / 22	2-4	5-1	+ -
Barton is dealing with right knee soreness, and it is unclear if he will suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Warriors.
Aaron Gordon (PF)	Prob Sat	Hamstring - 09 / 04 / 22	2-4	5-1	+ -
Gordon is nursing a left hamstring issue, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Warriors.
Monte Morris (PG)	Ques Sat	Elbow - 09 / 04 / 22	2-4	5-1	+ -
Morris is hampered by left elbow soreness, and it remains to be seen if he will be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Warriors.
Jamal Murray (SG)	out for season	Knee - 08 / 04 / 22	2-5	5-2	+ -
Murray is likely to miss the rest of the 2021-22 season after having a left ACL surgery.
Rodney McGruder (SG)	Prob Fri	Hip - 06 / 04 / 22	3-5	6-2	+ -
McGruder sat out the last contest due to a left hip strain, but it is projected that he will face the Bucks on Friday.
Will Barton (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 03 / 04 / 22	3-6	7-2	+ -
Barton is bothered by right knee soreness, but it is anticipated that he will lace up for Sunday's tilt versus the Lakers.
Jeff Green (SF)	Ques Thurs	Personal - 02 / 04 / 22	3-7	8-2	+ -
Green has missed the last two contests due to a personal issue, and it is unclear if he will face the Grizzlies on Thursday.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Horton-Tucker exited Sunday's game with a left ankle sprain, and he will not return.
Dwight Howard (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Howard will not take the court for Sunday's contest versus the Nuggets as he will be given a day of rest.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Out Sun	Illness - 07 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Anthony has been absent from the lineup during the past two games with a non-COVID-19 illness, and he will not play Sunday versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Out Sun	Foot - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis has been held out of the previous two games with a right mid-foot sprain, and he will not suit up against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Out Sun	Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Westbrook has missed his second-straight game with a sore right shoulder, and he will not be active against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 04 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Tuesday's clash versus the Suns.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22	2-3	2-3	+ -
Gabriel is tending to a left ankle sprain, but he is projected to partake in Sunday's matchup with the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 02 / 04 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Sunday's clash versus the Nuggets.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Anthony missed the previous game with a non-COVID illness, but it is expected that he will suit up Sunday against the Nuggets.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Gabriel is dealing with a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will dress for Friday's matchup with the Pelicans.