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The Denver Nuggets welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to Ball Arena for Game 5 of the Western Conference 1st-round series Monday. Tip in the best-of-7 series, which the Nuggets lead 3-1, is set for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Lakers vs. Nuggets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Nuggets are 2-2 against the spread (ATS) after losing 119-108 on the road in Game 4 Saturday, closing as a 3.5-point road favorite. Denver was 3-0 ATS and straight up against the Lakers during the regular season. C Nikola Jokic has averaged a triple-double throughout the 4 games, notching 29 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 10 assists per game.
The Lakers started their postseason with a 110-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament. The Lakers are 3-2 ATS in their 5 postseason games this season and ended the regular season 38-44 ATS. F Anthony Davis is averaging 30.5 points and 15.8 rebounds per game.
Lakers at Nuggets odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Lakers +245 (bet $100 to win $245) | Nuggets -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Lakers +7.5 (-114) | Nuggets -7.5 (-106)
- Over/Under (O/U): 217 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Lakers at Nuggets key injuries
Nuggets
- G Jamal Murray (calf) questionable
Lakers
- F Anthony Davis (wrist) probable
- F LeBron James (ankle) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Lakers at Nuggets picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 110, Lakers 106
Moneyline
PASS.
The Nuggets (-300) are 6-1 against the Lakers (+245) this season and 3-0 against them at home. Expect Denver to come out on top and close out the series, but there’s no value in betting the Nuggets to win.
Against the spread
BET LAKERS +7.5 (-114).
Los Angeles has the talent to keep this close and has impressed when its back is against the wall. In the in-season tournament final against the Indiana Pacers, the Lakers won by 14, closing as a 3.5-point favorite. They also beat the Pelicans to get into the playoffs.
Both of those could’ve been seen as must-win games, much like this one. Los Angeles has had multiple quarters in which it has outscored the Nuggets by double figures. The Nuggets are 2-2 ATS in the series and are 1-2 ATS as a favorite.
Expect the Lakers, given their experience and close-game performances, to keep things close. Back LAKERS +7.5 (-114).
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 217 (-112).
The Under has been hot in this series, going 3-1, and there has yet to be a game in which both teams have scored more than 108 points.
The Nuggets play at one of the slowest paces in the NBA, ranking 26th in the league during the regular season. On the other side, the Lakers sat 29th in offensive rebounding rate.
There aren’t going to be a lot of 2nd-chance opportunities coupled with a slow pace of play. The regular season series was 1-2 O/U as well, making the entire season series 2-5 O/U. Put it all together and back UNDER 217 (-112).
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