How do the Lakers vs Nuggets odds work?

The 2023-24 season will start with the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, hosting their opponent from the Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers. Being the defending champion, the Lakers vs Nuggets odds favor Denver to win the season’s first game.

The NBA odds for this game work like any other game you would bet on. There is a money line, spread, and points total option. The money line is betting on what team will win, with the Nuggets holding the advantage. Given that the Nuggets are the favorites, the spread also favors them, which is how many points they could win by. Finally, the points total focuses on how many points both teams will score in the game.

Betting Strategy

The Lakers vs Nuggets lines might be a complicated thing to bet on for the opening game. It is hard to tell how good a team is during the preseason, but both are expected to be Finals contenders this season.

The points total might be something to avoid for this opening game. In theory, both teams have two of the better offenses in the league, leading to a potential high-scoring game.

NBA picks for the money line or spread are much easier to predict, especially with how good the Nuggets were last season and with most expecting them to stay on the same path in pursuit of back-to-back championships. That leans NBA betting toward taking the Nuggets on the spread.

Prop Bets

Prop bets could be an excellent option for Lakers vs Nuggets betting. Player props could stand out, especially with both teams featuring so many stars.

The Nuggets have two-time MVP ​​Nikola Jokić, who fills up the stat sheet every game. Plus, he is surrounded by role players who fit his play style perfectly, such as Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon. The Lakers have one of the best duos in the NBA between LeBron James and Anthony Davis. All these elite players could be in for big games on opening night, letting player props have a lot of betting value.

Game Prediction

These two teams met in the Western Conference Finals last season, in which the Nuggets dominated, sweeping the series. That was Denver’s final stepping stone in the West, going on to win the NBA Finals. However, for the Lakers, it was a sign that while they were good enough to make the West Finals, there was still a lot of work left to do.

In the offseason, Los Angeles was surprisingly one of the more active teams, bolstering the roster around James and Davis. The Lakers re-signed Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, and Jarred Vanderbilt to keep key players of the team’s playoff success on the roster. Then, in free agency, the Lakers built their depth by signing Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, and Christian Wood.

This is an entirely new team for the Lakers, so NBA odds are still unsure about them, especially facing the Nuggets, who lost some depth but have been re-tooling. Denver lost two key players, Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, in free agency. Both played a massive part in last season’s playoff success. However, the Nuggets hope Christian Braun and Zeke Nnaji can slide into more prominent roles. On top of that, the Nuggets had a good draft, selecting Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, and Hunter Tyson, all older rookies who can make an immediate impact.

However, the stars will still decide this game. Jokić is undeniably one of the best players in the league, being a walking triple-double that rises to the moment. With the Nuggets championship banner being hung up before tip-off, there is a good chance he has a big game. Murray is also playing his first regular season game since his incredible play in the playoffs and Finals, looking to show NBA news that he is one of the top guards in the league.

Similarly, for the Lakers, the team will only go as far as James and Davis can take them. James is entering his 20th season in the NBA and is now the oldest player in the league, but he has yet to look like it. He will undoubtedly be motivated by facing the team that eliminated him from the playoffs last season in a sweep. Davis, who is usually dealing with injuries, is starting the season healthy and ready to make an immediate impact.

The Lakers will try their best to ruin this big night for the Nuggets but won’t be able to do so. The Nuggets are too good of a team and will be ready to begin their title defense with a win, likely covering the spread.