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The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers meet in Game 3 of a best-of-7 Western Conference 1st-round series Thursday. The Nuggets lead the series 2-0. Tip-off from Crypto.com Arena is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Nuggets vs. Lakers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The 7th-seeded Lakers covered as 7-point underdogs in Game 2, but the host Nuggets came away with the 101-99 victory Monday as the Under (223) hit.
G Jamal Murray hit the game-winner over C Anthony Davis as time expired to cap a 20-point comeback for the 2nd-seeded Nuggets, who have won 10 straight meetings with the Lakers. F LeBron James had a chance to put Los Angeles up 3 with 13 seconds remaining, but missed on the open shot from deep.
The Nuggets are 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in the last 7 meetings vs. L.A., and the Under has hit in 5 of the last 6.
Nuggets at Lakers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:29 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Nuggets -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Lakers -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Nuggets +1.5 (-120) | Lakers -1.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Nuggets at Lakers key injuries
Nuggets
- None
Lakers
- C Anthony Davis (back) probable
- F LeBron James (ankle) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Nuggets at Lakers picks and predictions
Prediction
Lakers 107, Nuggets 104
Moneyline
While I like the Lakers’ full-game ML (-105), the safer bet is to play them in the 1st half. L.A. has outscored Denver 119-101 before halftime in this series, but it struggles to control C Nikola Jokic (27 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 2) and the Nuggets offense over the course of a full game.
BET LAKERS 1ST HALF (-165).
Against the spread
For those who are uncomfortable laying -165 on the 1st-half ML, the 1st-half spread is low enough that the Lakers will likely cover it if they’re leading after the 2nd quarter. The 1st half of Game 3 is historically a good spot for home teams that are down 0-2 in a series, which is why we’re paying a bit of a tax on the Lakers here.
LEAN LAKERS 1ST HALF -2.5 (-110).
Over/Under
The Under has been very profitable in past meetings between these teams, and we should see a better effort from the Lakers on the defensive end after blowing a 20-point lead. While the total is a little low, it hasn’t dropped enough for me to consider playing the Over in a Nuggets-Lakers game.
BET UNDER 216.5 (-105).
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