Nuggets Pick to Seize 3-0 Lead vs LeBron, Lakers
The Denver Nuggets stole Game 2 at home, and the defending NBA champions now travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Thursday night.
NBA odds have it as a pick’em, which is a fair line considering how even the Western Conference first-round series has been so far.
Pressure is on the Lakers, so LeBron James and his teammates need to raise the bar – especially considering Denver has won 10 straight against them.
Nuggets vs Lakers Game Information
- Game: Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers
- Date/Time: April 25, 10 p.m. ET
- Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
- Nuggets vs Lakers Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
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Nuggets vs Lakers Betting Trends
- The Nuggets are 25-31-2 ATS following a win.
- The Nuggets are 23-30-1 ATS in conference games.
- The Lakers are 21-15 ATS following a loss.
- The Lakers are 1-1 ATS in playoff games.
- The over is 20-15-1 following a Lakers loss.
Defending Champs Showing Why
Game 2 showed why the Nuggets are the defending champions, and they could have forced the Lakers into submission.
It was a game the Lakers should have wrapped up, but the Nuggets, and in particular Jamal Murray, got hot and stole the road win.
They’re now in control of the series, but winning on the road hasn’t been as easy. The Nuggets are 24-17 on the road, which is still a good record, but the Lakers are a good home team at 28-14.
If they let the Lakers get off to a fast start again, they might not be able to catch them. However, having Murray and Nikola Jokic on the team makes it tough to bet against the Nuggets at the sportsbook.
They are one of the more professional teams in the NBA, and with momentum on their side, they could be tough to stop like a gold nugget rolling down a steep hill.
All the pressure is on the Lakers, which could free up the Nuggets to play their best basketball.
Getting -110 for the pick’em line is a value price for the visitors.
LeBron’s Last Chance?
The Lakers aren’t all about James, but should the Lakers lose Game 3, they’re highly likely to lose the series.
It could be James’ last chance to make a run at the NBA title, and based off body language following the most recent loss, they could be getting tired.
James had a chance to win the game before Murray made the last second shot. However, James never thinks about what could have happened, so bettors should expect a concentrated effort on Thursday.
Giving up a big lead could be tough to the Lakers to bounce back from, and they’ll know no lead is safe.
“A 20-point lead in this league, it’s not safe, especially against the defending champion,” James said. “We’ve got to do better. But we had our chances.”
It was good to see Anthony Davis play well. He was the top scorer for the Lakers, and although he couldn’t come up with the defensive play to end the game, seeing him in scoring form bodes well for the home team.
The Lakers have a good record after a loss, and although we would have liked a better NBA line, they can’t be overlooked as a winning hope.
There’s No Stopping the Nuggets
We feel like the Nuggets have been underrated for much of the year, despite playing excellent basketball throughout.
They are showing why they won the title last season, and although the Lakers put up a fight in Game 2, the Nuggets are the better team in this matchup.
There is no panic in the Nuggets, and knowing they can come back from a big deficit is a huge mental positive.
We’re happy to take them at the pick’em betting line, and we’re also throwing in the team total over. The Nuggets are at 108 points, and after scoring totals of 114 and 101, we’re comfortable of them meeting in the middle.
Questions Of The Day
Can the Lakers rebound from two losses?
The Lakers play at home, which should help their chances. They rebound well from losses, but the Nuggets have all the momentum.
What is the season series record between the Nuggets and Lakers?
The Nuggets are 5-0 against the Lakers, including three regular-season and two playoff games.