The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a play-in round win to advance to the regular NBA betting postseason. As a result, the Lakers will face the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the first round. Denver was not a consistent team most of the year. Indeed, the Nuggets were suffering from a championship hangover. However, in the final weeks of the regular season, Denver played like a champion. Thus, the Lakers will be facing all they can handle against Denver. Los Angeles is a decided underdog in the series.
2024 NBA Playoffs –First Round Series Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
| Date and Time: | Monday, April 22, 2024, 10 PM ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Ball Arena, Denver, CO. |
| TV Coverage: | TNT |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | +7½ -110 | 224 -110 | +250 |  |
| Nuggets | -7½ -110 | 224 -110 | -310 | |
| ||||
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Series Schedule
- Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
- Game 2: Mon. April 22 @ Denver (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Game 3: Thu., April 25 @ LA Lakers (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Game 4: Sat. April 27 @ LA Lakers (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
- Game 5: Mon. April 29 @ Denver (TBD)*
- Game 6: Thu. May 2 @ LA Lakers (TBD)*
- Game 7: Sat. May 4 @ Denver (TBD)*
*if necessary
Team Overview Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are 57-25 straight up, 38-43-1 against the spread, and 34-47-1 over/under the offshore betting total. Late on, Denver has covered four out of their last five games. In comparison, the Nuggets have gone over the total in four of its previous five matchups. Denver is 2nd in the Western Conference playoff standings. Denver lost a tie-breaker with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference playoff race.
Overall, Denver has NBA metrics of 14th for scoring offense, 4th for field goal percentage, 10th for 3-point field goal percentage, 25th for free throw percentage, and 7th for offensive rebounding. While on defense, the Nuggets have NBA metrics of 6th for scoring defense, 4th for field goal percentage permitted, 8th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 7th for defensive rebounding.
C Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets with 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game. Accordingly, Jokic is considered by many to be the top player in the NBA. Jokic was the NBA Finals MVP last year and is a 2-time NBA MVP. Jokic is a 6-time NBA All-Star.
Los Angeles Lakers Team Overview
The Los Angeles Lakers are 47-35 straight up, 38-44 against the spread, and 47-34-1 over/under the NBA betting total. Late on, Los Angeles has covered two out of their last six games. While the Lakers have gone over the total in six of its previous seven matchups. Los Angeles is 8th in the Western Conference playoff standings. Los Angeles is ten games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference playoff race.
In sum, Los Angeles has NBA metrics of 6th for scoring offense, 2nd for field goal percentage, 8th for 3-point field goal percentage, 15th for free throw percentage, and 18th for offensive rebounding. While on defense, the Lakers have NBA metrics of 23rd for scoring defense, 17th for field goal percentage permitted, 25th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 19th for defensive rebounding.
SF LeBron James leads the Lakers with 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. James is a 4-time NBA champion, 4-time NBA Finals MVP, 4-time NBA MVP, and 20-time NBA All-Star. Also, PF Anthony Davis averages 24.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. Davis is a 9-time NBA All-Star.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers SBG Free Pick
On the whole, Denver is too much for the aging Lakers.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers SBG Best Bet: Denver Nuggets.