Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 3 Prediction: NBA Playoffs Odds

Nik Kowalski | Updated Apr 25, 2024

NBA: Playoffs-Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets

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Canadian Jamal Murray gave the Nuggets a 2-0 series lead when he Game 2's buzzer-beater. Game 3 goes tonight in Los Angeles.

Denver
57-25
AT
April 25, 2024, 10:00 PM ET
Staples Center
L.A. Lakers
47-35
Pointspread +1.5 -110
Moneyline +100
Over / Under o +217.5
Matchup Odds
Pointspread -1.5 -110
Moneyline -120
Over / Under u +217.5
Matchup Odds

The Los Angeles Lakers are in desperate need of a victory as their first-round series with the Denver Nuggets shifts to California for Game 3. Denver took care of business on home court, taking a 2-0 series advantage to L.A. Game 2’s 101-99 Nuggets win was an instant classic with Jamal Murray walking it off with a step-back game-winner over L.A.’s Anthony Davis.

The duo of Davis and LeBron James were terrific in back-to-back opening losses for the Lakers, raising the question on what L.A. needs to get over this mountain that is the defending champion Nuggets. The Lakers blew a 15-point halftime lead in Game 2 and have led at the half in both games this series, only for Denver to climb back and win. And with the final blow coming on a buzzer-beater, the devastating loss only hurts any momentum L.A. had.

Tip-off for Game 3 at Crypto.com Arena goes at 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday with the NBA oddsmakers listing the Nuggets as 1.5-point favourites with an over-under at 215.5.

Nuggets vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds

Monday’s Game 2 win was Denver’s 10th straight victory over the Lakers. Both games in this series have gone under the total by at least 10 points and it’s caused the total to drop to around 215. L.A.’s yet to attempt 80 field goals in either game this series, one of the main causes for the lower-scoring battles.

The Lakers are much stronger on home court with wins in 29 of their 43 home games this season. Denver comes in with wins in nine of their last 12 contests played on the road and have covered in four of their last five road games at L.A., which would require Denver to win. Eight of the Lakers last 10 home contests have finished over the total.

Denver Nuggets

The irony of being a hero is sometimes it ends up being the player who’s slumping. That was exactly the case for Jamal Murray, who had missed 13 of his first 16 field goal attempts in Game 2 before nailing a difficult buzzer-beater with Anthony Davis in his face. Murray finished with 20 points in the win, one of three Nuggets played to reach that mark. Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double for Denver with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Jokic and Murray have been Denver’s top two guys on offence all season and while they delivered again in the opening two games, the Nuggets got some big time scoring from Michael Porter Jr in the two wins as well. Porter hit nine threes in the two wins and accumulated for six of the eight threes Denver made in Game 2. Without Porter’s surge, the Nuggets lose Game 2.

Los Angeles Lakers

It’s been nearly 500 days since the Lakers defeated the Nuggets and that streak looked to be over with the Lakers up 20 points in the third quarter. L.A. went on to score 40 second-half points, missed some important shots late like a LeBron James three before the Nuggets game-winner, and just like that the losing streak against Denver lives on.

Davis led the Lakers with 32 points in Game 2 while shooting 14 for 19 from the field. A D’Angelo Russell masterclass was wasted too as the sharpshooter drained seven of his 11 three-point attempts in the loss. One issue for the Lakers is only six players have scored points for them this series, and Taurean Prince’s 17 bench points account for all their bench points. Davis and LeBron can’t do it all, and the other Lakers need to step up.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Nuggets vs. Lakers?

NBA Predictions
SportsInteraction
  • DEN
  • +1.5 -1.5
  • LAL
Matchup NBA Odds