Denver Nuggets (41-19) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (34-28)
March 2, 2024 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: Los Angeles Lakers -1.5; Over/Under: +232.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Denver Nuggets pay a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Here’s a Nuggets vs Lakers Prediction.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have been in great shape as they’ve won eight of their last 11 games overall and they will be aiming for a sixth straight victory after outlasting the Heat in a 103-97 home win on Thursday. Michael Porter Jr. led the team with 30 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, Nikola Jokic tallied 18 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in with 18 points on five of 11 shooting. As a team, the Nuggets shot just 42 percent from the field and 12 of 34 from the 3-point line, but they played great defense to hold the Heat to just 19 points in the third quarter to open a 16-point lead, which was just enough to hold off a late charge from the Heat. The Nuggets will take on the Suns after this one.
Los Angeles Lakers
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have been in red-hot form as they’ve won nine of their last 12 games overall, and they will be eager to keep it going after sneaking past the lowly Wizards in a 134-131 overtime home win on Thursday. Anthony Davis led the team with 40 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks on 14 of 22 shooting, LeBron James added 31 points with nine assists while D’Angelo Russell chipped in with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. As a team, the Lakers shot 52 percent from the field and eight of 23 from the 3-point line as they fought hard to extend the game into overtime thanks to a clutch shot from Austin Reaves at the end of the fourth quarter, before they held the Wizards scoreless in the final 3:49 of overtime to escape with the narrow win at home.
Los Angeles Lakers Team Facts
- The Lakers have lost nine of their last 10 games as favorites following an overtime win.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 12 night games following an overtime win.
- Five of the Lakers’ last six home games following an overtime win have gone OVER the total points line.
Denver Nuggets Team Facts
- The Nuggets have won each of their last seven games against the Lakers.
- The Nuggets have covered the spread in each of their last five games at Crypto.com Arena against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
- Five of the Nuggets’ last six night games against the Lakers following a home win have gone UNDER the total points line.
Nuggets vs Lakers Prediction
The Nuggets could be short a couple of players in this one, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jamal Murray both listed as questionable, while the Lakers are still missing Christian Wood, and they have LeBron James listed as questionable. The Nuggets come into this meeting with plenty of momentum, and they would probably be favorites in this one if there wasn’t an injury cloud hanging over two of their starters, but the Lakers have been in season-best form and even though they were far from convincing in their overtime win over the Wizards, I’m still backing the Lakers to get the statement win at home in a close one.
