Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview
The Lakers and Nuggets will face off at 10:00 PM ET at Ball Arena in Denver. This is game five of the first-round series, with the Nuggets leading 3-1. Denver is favored by 7.5 points and come in at -301 on the money line. The Lakers are at +242, and the over/under line is 217. TNT is carrying the game on TV.
Check out BetCoco for Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Lakers odds
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Head-to-Head and Key Stats
Over the last three times that the Nuggets have hosted the Lakers, they have gone 2-1. Against the spread, the Lakers have the edge at 2-1 over their last three games vs. the Nuggets. However, the Nuggets have gone 2-1 in their last three home games vs. the Lakers.
- The Lakers are 3-2 ATS in their last road games and 3-2 straight-up.
- Across their ten previous home games, Denver has an ATS mark of 4-6. Their straight up record in these matchups was 6-4 while averaging 112 points per game.
- Los Angeles has done well both straight up and vs the spread as the underdog, going 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games.
- As the betting favorite, the Nuggets have an ATS mark of just 5-5 in their last ten games. Denver posted a straight up mark of 7-3 in these matchups.
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction
LeBron James and the Lakers picked up an 11-point win over the Nuggets in the most recent game of this series. The Lakers were 3.5-point underdogs heading into the game, so they also covered the spread. Going into the game, the over/under line was set at 220 points, and the teams combined to score 227 points.
The Lakers had a big second quarter in this game, outscoring the Nuggets 33-25. The Lakers held the Nuggets to just 30% shooting from three-point range, and they also had a below-average shooting performance from beyond the arc. However, they still shot 52.2% overall. James had 30 points for the Lakers, and Anthony Davis had 25 points and 23 rebounds. Nikola Jokic had 33 points, 14 assists, and 14 rebounds for the Nuggets.
As the Lakers get set to take on the Nuggets, they find themselves as 7.5-point underdogs. This season, the Lakers have been the underdog in 41 of their 82 games, going 17-24 straight-up and 21-20 against the spread.
In Western Conference play, the Lakers are 27-25 compared to 20-10 against non-conference opponents. This has them in 7th place in the West, and they are 47-35 overall.
On the road, the Lakers are 20-23 straight-up and 20-23 ATS. Their ATS record as the underdog is 21-20, and they have covered the spread in their last two games as the underdog.
This season, the Lakers have averaged a scoring margin of -3.4 points per game on the road. Their O/U record for the season is 49-38, and their games have averaged 234.3 points per game.
In their last game against the Nuggets, the Lakers won by a score of 119-108. They were 3.5-point underdogs going into the game and covered the spread. The O/U line for that game was 220.
Los Angeles comes into the game ranked 7th in the league in scoring, at 118 points per game. Their scoring average on the road is 116.1 points per contest, which is 6th in the NBA. The Lakers have been one of the most efficient shooting teams in the league this year, connecting on 49% of their shots from the field, which is the 3rd best mark in the league.
Anthony Davis has averaged 28.4 points and 15.6 rebounds in his last five games while hitting 58.2% of his shots from the field. Lebron James has averaged 26.4 points and 8.4 assists in his last five games. For the season, James has hit 41% of his three-point attempts. D’Angelo Russell is averaging 18 points and 6.3 assists.
So far this season, the Lakers have been one of the worst teams in the league in terms of points allowed per game, ranking 23rd at 116.9. On the road, they have been even worse, giving up 119.5 points per contest (24th).
Despite their struggles on the defensive end, the Lakers have done a good job of keeping opponents off the offensive glass, ranking 2nd in defensive rebounds per game. They have also been solid at blocking shots, coming in at 11th in the league.
One area where the Lakers have been able to limit opponents is at the free-throw line, where they are 2nd in made free-throws allowed per game.
The Nuggets are looking to extend their home winning streak to seven games today. They are favored by 7.5 points and have a home ATS record of 22-20 compared to 18-24 on the road.
Despite being favored in 75 of their 82 games, the Nuggets have an O/U record of 35-49-2 for the season. On average, their games have finished with 224 points, which is lower than today’s line of 217.
In their last game against the Lakers, the Nuggets lost by a score of 119-108. Denver was favored by 3.5 points in that game, and the O/U line was 220.
Denver is currently 2nd in the Western Conference with a record of 57-25. Against Western Conference opponents, they are 33-19 and 24-6 in non-conference games.
This season, the Nuggets have an ATS record of 40-44, with a 34-39 record as the favorite. As the favorite, they are 55-20 straight-up and 5-6 as the underdog.
This season, Nikola Jokic is averaging 26.4 points and 12.4 rebounds. Over his last five games, he has put up 26.2 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 9 assists. In these games, he shot 60.2% from the field. Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 16.7 points per game for the season and 20 points per game in his last five games. He also hit 40.5% of his threes in his last five games.
Denver is averaging 118 points per game at home this season, which is 10th in the league. Overall, they are 13th in scoring at 114.9 points per contest. The team’s field goal percentage of 49% is the 4th best mark in the NBA. Despite their high field goal percentage, they are just 25th in three-point shooting.
When it comes to defense, the Denver Nuggets have been one of the best in the league this season, ranking 6th in points allowed per game at 109.5. They have been especially stingy from beyond the arc, giving up just 11.1 made threes per game, which is the 2nd best mark in the NBA.
Overall, opponents have made just 35.1% of their three-point attempts vs. the Nuggets this season. Over their last five games, Denver has been even better, holding opponents to just 28.9% shooting from deep.
Despite their strong defense, opponents have been able to score less than their season average vs. the Nuggets in 75.6% of their games this season. In terms of rebounding, Denver is 7th in the league at 44.4 boards per game.
In spite of being 7.5 point underdogs, we anticipate the Lakers winning this one 119-114.
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Betting Tips
- We like the Lakers on the moneyline (+242)
- The Lakers are also our pick on the spread at +7.5
- Projecting a combined 233 points, we like the over
Denver Nuggets Injury Report
- Reggie Jackson – Ankle – Probable
- Jamal Murray – Calf – Questionable
- Vlatko Cancar – Knee – Out
Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report
- Anthony Davis – Wrist – Probable
- LeBron James – Ankle – Probable
- Jarred Vanderbilt – Foot – Questionable
- Cam Reddish – Ankle – Out
- Jalen Hood-Schifino – Back – Out
