The Denver Nuggets (4-2) and Los Angeles Lakers (0-5) meet Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Nuggets vs. Lakers odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Nuggets covered as 7.5-point home favorites in a 117-101 win vs. the Utah Jazz Friday. G Bones Hyland scored a game-high 26 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the 3-point line; seven Nuggets players finished with double-digit points.
Denver is 1-4 against the spread (ATS) in its last 5 games after winning its previous game by more than 10 points.
The Lakers dropped to 0-5 ATS when they failed to cover as 8-point underdogs in a 111-102 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday. Los Angeles was without F/C Anthony Davis who was out with a back injury.
The Lakers are +110 underdogs to reach the playoffs.
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Nuggets at Lakers odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Nuggets -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Lakers +133 (bet $100 to win $133)
- Against the spread (ATS): Nuggets -3.5 (-115) | Lakers +3.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 222.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Nuggets at Lakers key injuries
Nuggets
- G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) questionable
Lakers
- F/C Anthony Davis (back) questionable
- F LeBron James (foot) probable
- G Dennis Schröder (thumb) out
- F Juan Toscano-Anderson (ankle) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Nuggets at Lakers picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 106, Lakers 105
Moneyline
PASS.
Nuggets (-165) ML is too expensive to bet vs. a Lakers team that desperately needs a win. I expect F LeBron James to have a big game offensively Sunday in order to avoid the negative press that would come with an 0-6 start.
Against the spread
BET LAKERS +3.5 (-105).
The Lakers have underperformed in every game this season but catching 3.5 points at home is an overreaction.
The Nuggets are tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 7th-best odds to win the NBA Finals at +1500. They are not even projected to reach the Western Conference Finals. They have no business laying 3.5 points in Los Angeles vs. a desperate James-led team.
Take the points as Los Angeles battles to get its 1st win of the season.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 222.5 (-112).
The Lakers’ defense has been above average this season, allowing 110.6 points per game (11th in NBA). The Under is 4-0 in the Lakers’ last 4 games and I expect it to hit again Sunday as Los Angeles ramps up the defensive effort in hopes of getting its 1st win.
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