Monday night at 9 p.m. ET, the Denver Nuggets (46-24) square off with the Los Angeles Lakers (51-18) in the bubble outside of Orlando, Fla. We analyze the Nuggets-Lakers’ NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Lakers vs. Nuggets: Key injuries
Nuggets
- PF Will Barton (knee) out
- SG Gary Harris (hip) out
- SF Vlatko Cancar (foot) out
Lakers
- SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (foot) out
- SG Alex Caruso (neck) probable
- PF Anthony Davis (ankle) probable
- SG Danny Green (hip) probable
- C Dwight Howard (knee) probable
- SF LeBron James (groin) probable
- PF Markieff Morris (hip) probable
- PG Rajon Rondo (thumb) out
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Lakers vs. Nuggets: Updated odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 6 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Lakers 118, Nuggets 109
Moneyline (ML)
AVOID. The Lakers (-209 was -223 earlier today) have already clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference, and they have nearly their entire team listed on the injury report with some sort of ailment. While Caldwell-Pope and Rondo are the only players officially listed as out, any player could be tabbed to rest with nothing left to play for in this outing.
The Nuggets (+170 was +180 earlier today) might be worth a small-unit play here, if anything, as they are one-game back of the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 2 spot in the West. Barton and Harris have been ruled out again, so there is plenty of risk.
New to sports betting? To bet on the Lakers, it would cost $209 to gain a profit of $100 if the Lakers win, while every $10 wagered on the Nuggets would fetch a profit of $17.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The LAKERS -5 (-110) are worth taking, even though there is some risk here with the lengthy injury list, so be very mindful during the day and be ready to amend your ticket if someone is ruled out right before tip-off.
The Nuggets +5 (-110) are a tempting play, but with Barton and Harris still out, Denver isn’t near 100%, either.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 223.5 (-110) increased three points during the day. It is a good play, going 19-7-2 in the previous 28 meetings between these teams. Denver has also hit the over in each of their five games inside the bubble, while the over hit in the most recent outing where the Lakers had a full squad.
LA is allowing 114.5 points per game across its past two, and at least 105 points in each of the five games in the bubble.
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