The Los Angeles Lakers look to even the Western Conference Finals at 1 game apiece when they visit the Denver Nuggets Thursday. Tip-off from Ball Arena is at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Lakers vs. Nuggets odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Nuggets held on for a 132-126 win the best-of-7 series opener Tuesday. Denver led by as many as 21 points but the Lakers closed to within 3 points numerous times over the final minutes of the game. C Nikola Jokic had a triple-double with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists, while G Jamal Murray added 31 points.
The Lakers were led by F Anthony Davis‘ 40 points and 10 rebounds, while F LeBron James fell just short of a triple-double with 26 points, 12 boards and 9 assists.
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Lakers at Nuggets odds odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:17 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Lakers +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Nuggets -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Lakers +5.5 (-110) | Nuggets -5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Lakers at Nuggets key injuries
Lakers
- F Anthony Davis (foot) probable
- F LeBron James (foot) probable
Nuggets
- None
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Lakers at Nuggets picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 127, Lakers 119
Moneyline
The Nuggets are 7-0 at home during the postseason and the Lakers have lost 3 straight road games in the playoffs and 5 of their last 6.
No one this postseason has had an answer for Jokic, but the Nuggets (-225) aren’t worth the action — particularly when Los Angeles showed it can be competitive in the series opener.
PASS.
Against the spread
After leading by as many as 21 points, the Lakers made things interesting and covered the 7.5-point spread in Game 1.
The Nuggets are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games in the playoffs; the Lakers are 7-3 ATS.
Eight of the Nuggets’ 9 wins this postseason were by at least 6 points.
BET NUGGETS -5.5 (-110).
Over/Under
The Over is 4-1 in the Nuggets’ last 5 games following a game when their opponent scored 125 or more points.
The Over is 4-0 in the Lakers’ last 4 road games against a team with a home winning percentage of at least .600.
The two teams combined for 258 points in Game 1.
BET OVER 226.5 (-110).
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