Tuesday NBA Odds: Nuggets Begin Title Defense vs LeBron’s Lakers
Not long after they met to decide the Western Conference title, the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets tangle Tuesday night in the Mile High City in the NBA’s tip-off event. Both figures to be in the mix for the West crown once again, and this opener is dripping with drama.
There’s also plenty to find regarding betting lines for NBA action in this one. Below is a game pick and a few props for you to consider. Good luck!
Lakers vs Nuggets Betting Lines
Nuggets Primed to Repeat
There weren’t any significant changes in Denver after the title run. Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope comprise the best, most balanced starting five in the game.
That quintet led the Nuggets to a sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The average margin of victory was just 6.0 points, but the series was never in doubt in Denver.
Trash talk between the two teams continued in the offseason and has bubbled up again in the wake of the opener, a sure sign of a growing rivalry. That will only continue to intensify with two teams among the top five on our NBA title odds sheet.
For the opener, it’ll be an emotional ring night for the champs. The Nuggets will be buzzing over their bling and soaking up all that comes from being honored as champions, and then all of a sudden the ball’s in the air, and they’re just another team. It’s hard to make that shift, and we expect a slow start for the hosts.
For our NBA odds prediction, we like the Lakers +2 in the first quarter, +120 to be the first to 20 points, and consider them to cover the spread for the entire game as well.
NBA Pick: Lakers +5½
Lakers-Nuggets Prop Bets
Anthony Davis
Davis was a force when healthy last season, carrying the Lakers in the playoffs with an NBA-leading 14.1 rebounds per game and four games of 30 points or more. Everyone talks in a positive manner before the season begins, but the good vibes surrounding Davis this month feel more legit than they might with others.
Davis averaged 14.4 points in only 18.1 minutes in the preseason, looking more than ready to tackle Jokic and company. He posted 26.5 PPG vs. the Nuggets in the WCF and has at least 25 against them in 15 of the last 23 meetings, including the playoffs.
Getting up to 25 in a super-charged opener certainly seems to be in the cards and could be a solid bet online.
NBA Prop Pick: Anthony Davis Over 24.5 points (-108)
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Kentavious Caldwell
Caldwell-Pope was atop the 3-point shooting ranks well into the 2022-23 season, shooting 45% from the arc before the All-Star break. He buried 12 3s in the WCF and eight in the four regular-season matchups with Los Angeles, so that’s 20 in eight contests vs. the Lakers last season.
Caldwell-Pope made at least two 3s in more than half of his games last season. With so many stars attracting attention elsewhere, he’ll be able to drift around the perimeter tonight ready for a kick-out or two. If you’re feeling this NBA bet online, perhaps get a bit greedy and take him to make 3+ at +219, 4+ at +600, and so on.
For our money, the 2+ figure seems safe and profitable at the sportsbook.
NBA Prop Pick: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Make at Least Two 3s (-127)
LeBron James
This feels like a season in which LeBron plays the distributor a bit more. He led the NBA in assists per game in the Lakers’ 2020 title season when there were more scoring options. This is a similar situation with AD looking primed to dominate and plenty of quality scorers on a roster that’s much deeper than it was a year ago today.
Starting his 21st season, it makes sense for the superstar to limit some tough contact when he can, especially early on. Expect fewer drives to the hoop and some more looks to Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince, etc.
As with the KCP pick, build up for value and take James to get six assists at -295, seven at -109, eight at +104, nine at +206, or 10 at +400.
NBA Prop Pick: LeBron James to Have at Least Five Assists (-834)
Lakers vs Nuggets Game Information
- Game: Lakers (0-0) vs Nuggets (0-0)
- Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Lakers vs Nuggets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Elevate your NBA betting game with the best NBA lines and expert insights, ensuring you make winning bets every time.
Questions Of The Day
Which player will have the biggest impact on the game?
One guy we haven’t mentioned yet is D’Angelo Russell. He had a miserable WCF vs. Denver but – like Davis – had a huge preseason and looks very comfortable in his Lakers skin. Expect a motivated Russell to have a big opener.
What bet could offer good value on the Lakers vs Nuggets game?
We think the Nuggets could start slow. Perhaps they never wake from their offseason slumber and a charged-up Lakers team wins this one outright. It’s not a crazy idea and could bring you a big payout, especially combined with one of our other recommendations.
