Thursday night’s game three matchup between the Nuggets and Lakers is set to tip-off at 10:00 PM ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Nuggets are currently leading the series 2-0 and are the 2 seed in the Western Conference, while the Lakers are the 7 seed. The over/under line is at 215 points, and the Lakers are favored by 1 point at home. Both teams have a money line of -110, and TNT is carrying the game on TV.

DENVER NUGGETS VS LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Los Angeles Lakers -1

This game will be played at Crypto.com Arena at 10:00 ET on Thursday, April 25th.

WHY BET THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 120-115 in favor of the Lakers.
  • Our projections have LeBron James finishing with LeBron James points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists.
  • From the field, we have the Lakers finishing with a field goal percentage of 49.0% and knocking down 14 threes.

Heading into the most recent game of this Lakers/Nuggets series, Los Angeles was favored by 7 points on the road. The Nuggets were able to pull off the upset, winning 101-99. The Lakers had a 79-69 lead heading into the 4th quarter, but the Nuggets outscored them 32-20 in the final quarter. The over/under line for the game was 223.5 points, and the 200 combined points fell 23.5 points short of the line.

Anthony Davis had a big game for the Lakers, finishing with 32 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron James added 26 points and 12 assists. Nikola Jokic had a huge game for the Nuggets, finishing with a triple-double of 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. As a team, the Nuggets made just 8 threes and shot 23.5% from three-point range. Michael Porter Jr. was the Nuggets’ second-leading scorer with 22 points.

Will Denver Come Through as Road Underdogs?

Today, the Nuggets are looking to extend their win streak to four games. In their last game, they defeated the Lakers by a score of 101-99. Denver was favored by 7 points in that game.

As the underdog, the Nuggets have a scoring differential of -3.8 points per game this season. On the road, their scoring margin is +0.7 PPG. Against the spread, they are 5-5 as the underdog on the road and 39-43 overall.

In the Western Conference, the Nuggets are currently in 2nd place with a record of 57-25. In non-conference games, they went 24-6 compared to 33-19 against Western Conference opponents.

Denver’s O/U record for the season is 34-48-2, and the under has hit in their last two games. On average, their games have seen 224.1 points scored, and today’s O/U line is set at 215.

Denver’s offense is averaging 114.9 points per game this season, which is 13th in the league. They have been better at home, putting up 118 points per contest compared to 111.2 on the road. The team’s field goal percentage of 49% is the 4th best mark in the NBA. Despite being one of the most efficient shooting teams, they are just 25th in three-pointers made and 29th in free throw attempts.

Nikola Jokic is averaging 27.4 points per game in his last five games, while hitting 67.5% of his shots from the field. In these games, he has also hit 54.5% of his threes. Overall, he is averaging 26.4 points, 9 assists, and 12.4 rebounds. Jamal Murray is averaging 23.6 points per game in his last five games, and Michael Porter Jr. has put up 17 points and 6.6 rebounds in his last five.

When it comes to defense, the Denver Nuggets have been one of the best teams in the league this season. They are giving up just 109.4 points per game, which is 6th in the NBA. On the road, they have been even better, allowing just 110.5 points per game, which is 5th in the league.

One of the reasons the Nuggets have been so good defensively is their ability to contest shots. They are 10th in the NBA in blocked shots at 5.6 per game. They have also done a good job of defending the three-point line, allowing just 35.4% shooting from beyond the arc, which is 2nd in the league.

Over their last five games, the Nuggets have given up 108.2 points per game, which is 11th in the NBA during that stretch. However, they have struggled to defend the two-point shot, allowing opponents to shoot 56.2% from inside the arc.

Do the Lakers Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?

Today, the Lakers are favored by 1 point against the Nuggets. As the favorite, the Lakers have a scoring margin of +4.8 points per game this season. In their games as the favorite, the Lakers have gone 32-13 and have been favored in 45 of their 82 games.

In terms of their ATS record, the Lakers are 20-22 at home and 20-23 on the road. They have failed to cover the spread in their last two home games and have an overall ATS record of 40-45.

The Lakers are currently 7th in the Western Conference with a record of 47-35. In their last game, the Lakers lost to the Nuggets by a score of 101-99. The Lakers were 7-point underdogs in that game, giving them an ATS win.

This season, the Lakers have an O/U record of 48-37, and the under has hit in their last three games. On average, the Lakers’ games have finished with 234.6 points, and today’s O/U line is set at 215.

In non-conference games, the Lakers are 20-10 compared to 27-25 against Western Conference opponents. At home, the Lakers are 28-14, and they are 20-23 on the road.

For the season, the Lakers are the 6th ranked scoring offense, at 118 points per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 119 points per contest on their home floor. Los Angeles is also 3rd in field goal percentage, at 49% for the year. Despite being last in three-point attempts, they are 8th in three-point percentage.

LeBron James is averaging 28.2 points, 10.2 assists, and 8.6 rebounds over his last five games. In terms of three-point shooting, he has hit 40% of his threes in his last five. Anthony Davis is averaging 30 points and 13 rebounds in his last five games, while hitting 57.7% of his shots from the field. Davis is probable with a back injury, and James is probable with an ankle injury.

When it comes to defense, the Lakers have struggled this season, ranking 23rd in the NBA in points allowed per game at 117.1. However, they have been much better at home, giving up 114.6 points per game, which is 18th in the league.

One area where the Lakers have excelled is in defending the three-point line, allowing opponents to shoot just 37.4% from beyond the arc, which is 28th in the NBA. Despite this, opponents have made more threes than their season average in 64.6% of their games vs. the Lakers.

Overall, Los Angeles is 2nd in the NBA in made free throws allowed per game at 17.8. In their last five games, they have been even better in this area, giving up just 11.8 made free throws per game.