The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets meet Thursday in game 2 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at the Ball Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Lakers are averaging 113.5 points on 47.5 percent shooting and allowing 109.2 points on 43.1 percent shooting. LeBron James is averaging 23.6 points and 10.2 rebounds, while Anthony Davis is averaging 22.6 points and 13.8 rebounds. Austin Reaves is the third double-digit scorer and D’Angelo Russell is grabbing 3 rebounds. The Los Angeles Lakers are shooting 33.8 percent from beyond the arc and 80.1 percent from the free throw line. The Los Angeles Lakers are allowing 34.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 45.5 rebounds per game.
Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
The Denver Nuggets are averaging 117.2 points on 49.4 percent shooting and allowing 108.3 points on 47.7 percent shooting. Nikola Jokic is averaging 31 points and 13.5 rebounds, while Jamal Murray is averaging 26.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. is the third double-digit scorer and Aaron Gordon is grabbing 5.8 rebounds. The Denver Nuggets are shooting 38.7 percent from beyond the arc and 81.1 percent from the free throw line. The Denver Nuggets are allowing 34.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44.6 rebounds per game.
Lakers vs Nuggets Trends
The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Nuggets are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 home games and 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 Conference Finals games. The over is 15-6 in Lakers last 21 overall. The over is 7-3-1 in Nuggets last 11 overall. The Lakers are 4-10-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings in Denver.
Randy’s Pick
The Los Angeles Lakers put together enough in the second half of game 1 that makes you think they’ll enter this contest with confidence and a better start. However, as I’ve said all year, the Nuggets are just too good at home to bet against, and that includes winning by an average of 10.3 points. The Nuggets are also 31-17 ATS at home. I just can’t bet against the Nuggets at home.