At 8:30 ET, the Lakers (-117) will host the Nuggets (-104) in a Western Conference matchup. Los Angeles (-1) is favored in this game, which will be played at Crypto.com Arena.

Denver is currently on a five-game win streak and holds a record of 41-19. The Lakers are 33-28 and have won two straight. The over/under line for this game is 228.5, and it will be televised on ABC.

DENVER NUGGETS VS LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Los Angeles Lakers -1

This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena at 8:30 ET on Saturday, March 2nd.

WHY BET THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 132-122 in favor of the Lakers.
  • Our projections have LeBron James finishing with LeBron James points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
  • From the field, we have the Lakers finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.0% and knocking down 13 threes.

Will the Nuggets Defense Show Up in Los Angeles?

The Nuggets have won five straight games and are 41-19 on the season, which is good for 3rd place in the Western Conference. In non-conference play, they are 18-6 compared to 23-13 against the West.

As the underdog this season, the Nuggets have gone 3-6 straight-up and 4-5 against the spread. Today, they are getting 1 point as the underdog. In their last nine games as the underdog, they are 4-5 straight-up.

Denver’s O/U record for the season is 21-38-1, and the under has hit in three straight games. On average, their games have finished with 224.6 points, and today’s O/U line is set at 228.5.

In their last game, the Nuggets defeated the Heat by a score of 103-97. They were favored by 6.5 points in that game but did not cover the spread. The O/U line for that game was 214.5.

On the season, the Nuggets are averaging 114.4 points per game, which is 18th in the NBA. However, they have been better at home, where they average 118.5 points per game compared to 110.5 on the road.

Denver is one of the top teams in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 49% on the season. They are also 3rd in the NBA in two-point field goals made per game.

So far, the Nuggets have outscored the NBA scoring average in 46.7% of their games. However, they have struggled from beyond the arc, making just 36% of their three-point attempts.

Not only do the Nuggets’ overall defensive numbers look good, as they are 6th in the league in points allowed. Denver has also been playing well on defense of late, ranking 15th in the league over their last three games at 98.7 PPG allowed. Inside the arc, the Nuggets defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 52.4% and 36.0% from three-point territory.

Can The Lakers Secure a Home Victory?

At 33-28, the Lakers are currently 10th in the Western Conference and 5th in the Pacific Division. In non-conference games, they are 11-9 compared to 22-19 against the West.

Los Angeles has won their last two games and are favored by 1 point today. As the favorite, they have a straight-up record of 22-10 and 13-19 vs. the spread. Their ATS record as the favorite is 14-15.

The Lakers’ O/U record for the season is 33-28, and their games have averaged 234.7 points per game. Today’s O/U line is 228.5.

In their most recent game, the Lakers defeated the Wizards by a score of 134-131. The O/U line for that game was 244 points, and the Lakers were favored by 10.5 points going into the game.

On the season, the Lakers are 14-16 vs. the spread at home, and they have an average scoring differential of +5.0 points per game. Their straight-up home record is 21-9.

Last season, the Lakers were 52-19 and went on to win the NBA Championship. They are currently favored to win today’s game against the Nuggets.

When playing at home, the Lakers are averaging 118.2 points per game (10th). On the season, they have scored 117.2 points per game (12th).

Los Angeles is 5th in the NBA in pace at 101.1 possessions per game. In terms of field goal percentage, they are 3rd in the league at 49%.

So far, the Lakers have made 56% of their two-point attempts, which is 6th in the NBA. However, they are 30th in three-point attempts and 28th in three-point makes.

So far, the Lakers’ defense is ranked 20th in the league at 117.6 points per contest. For the season, Los Angeles is ranked 30th in fewest fouls per game. Team’s are averaging 18.8 free-throws per game vs. the Lakers and have an overall field goal percentage of 47.4%.