The Denver Nuggets (43-21) are at the Staples Center for the second straight game Monday to play the Los Angeles Lakers (36-28). Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Nuggets-Lakers odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
Denver has won nine of its last 10 games, including a 110-104 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers as 5.5-point dogs, but have only covered five of the previous 10 contests.
L.A.’s struggles have become the talk of the NBA as the Lakers have dropped both games since LeBron James returned to the lineup April 30.
The Lakers have dropped six of their last seven games and are just 0-6-1 ATS in those games. L.A. has slid to the postseason play-in territory as they’re 7th in the West (seeds 7-10 participate in the playoff play-in).
This is the regular-season rubber match between the two teams as they split the first two meetings with the home team winning and covering both games.
Nuggets at Lakers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Nuggets -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Lakers +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
- Against the spread/ATS: Nuggets -5 (-110) | Lakers +5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 213.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Nuggets at Lakers: Key injuries
Nuggets
- PG Jamal Murray (knee) out
- SG Will Barton (hamstring) out
- PG Monte Morris (hamstring) out
Lakers
- SF LeBron James (ankle) out
- PG Dennis Schroder (health and safety protocols) out
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Nuggets at Lakers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Nuggets 118, Lakers 105
Money line (ML)
PASS despite how surprising it would be if a LeBron-and Schroder-less Lakers (+165) beat a red-hot Nuggets (-200) because Denver’s money line is just too expensive for any NBA regular-season favorite.
Furthermore, Anthony Davis has looked awful since returning from injury, but would it be shocking if he dismantled the Nuggets tonight? I’d say no.
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Against the spread (ATS)
BET the NUGGETS -5 (-110) for 1 unit because we haven’t seen a dramatic fall-off from Denver since losing Murray for the season with a torn ACL.
In fact, Nuggets wing Michael Porter Jr. has stepped up his game and is starting to justify all the hype he received when he was the No. 1 recruited player out of high school and drafted in the lottery despite limited college playing time.
Over/Under (O/U)
“LEAN” to the OVER 213.5 (-110) for a half unit because four of the past five Nuggets-Lakers meetings have gone Over the total as has eight of the last 10.
Also, the Lakers have been playing matador defense over the past two weeks; L.A. is 23rd in defensive rating in the last seven games, and Schroder’s absence could lead to more catch-and-shoot opportunities for the Lakers’ role players.
Even if the Lakers don’t bring much to the table offensively, the Over could still cash since the Nuggets could easily score in the mid-120s against this L.A. team that frankly looks checked out of the regular season.
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