The Denver Nuggets visit the Los Angeles Lakers for game 3 of the Western Conference finals Saturday. Tip-off from Crypto.com Arena is set for 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC).
Series: Nuggets lead 2-0
Denver defended home court Thursday with a 108-103 win to take a 2-0 lead on the Lakers. Denver trailed for a good chunk of the game, even being down 11 points at one point. It was a heroic 23-point, 4th quarter performance from G Jamal Murray that propelled the Nuggets to victory. Murray finished with 37 points.
The Lakers had Thursday’s game in their hands, but Murray’s hot 4th quarter and poor play down the stretch from F/C Anthony Davis and F Lebron James led to the L.A. loss. Davis finished with 18 points on 4-of-15 shooting, while James scored 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting, including 0-of-6 beyond the arc.
However, the Lakers did cover as 5.5-point underdogs — they also covered by a hook in game 1, getting 6.5 points in a 132-126 defeat.
Nuggets at Lakers odds
- Moneyline (ML): Nuggets +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Lakers -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Nuggets +5.5 (-110) | Lakers -5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 222.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Nuggets at Lakers key injuries
Nuggets
- None
Lakers
- F/C Anthony Davis (foot) probable
- F LeBron James (foot) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Nuggets at Lakers picks and predictions
Prediction
Lakers 115, Nuggets 109
Moneyline
PASS.
This is a pretty much a must-win game for the Lakers as this game is on their home floor and they can’t afford to fall into a 3-0 hole in the series. LeBron and Co. will win Saturday, but the -250 moneyline price is simply too risky to play. Bet on the spread or O/U instead.
Against the spread
BET LAKERS -5.5110).
The Lakers have been dominant against the spread lately, going 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games. They’re also 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games and 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 conference final games.
While the Nuggets are 63-32 ATS on the season, including the playoffs (according to Teamrankings.com), they have struggled against the number vs. the Lakers. They’re 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings vs. the Lakers and 1-5 ATS in the last 6 at L.A.
Over/Under
BET OVER 222.5110).
These are 2 very strong defensive teams, but the trends suggest that the Over is the way to go here.
The Over is 5-1-1 in Denver’s last 7 road games and 4-1 in its last 5 conference final games.
As for the Lakers, the Over is 5-3 in their last 8 games.
The strongest trend for this play is that the Over is also 30-14-2 in the last 46 head-to-head meetings between the Nuggets and Lakers (per Covers.com).