The Denver Nuggets take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. The Nuggets are currently in third place in the Western Conference team standings and they are just one game off the second-place Los Angeles Clippers. Meanwhile, the Lakers have already clinched the top spot in the West three games ago. Since securing the top seed, the Lakers have dropped their last three assignments.
The Denver Nuggets have won three out of their last four games and are coming off one of the most exciting games of the season. Denver came back from a 14-point first-half deficit to beat the Utah Jazz 134-132 in double overtime. Jamal Murray played his first game of the bubble after sitting out their previous assignments with hamstring tightness. Murray scored 23 points including the tying and the go-ahead baskets in the second overtime. He barely missed a triple-double with 11 rebounds and 8 assists.
Nikola Jokic leads the team with 20.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game this season. Jamal Murray continues to improve and he is averaging 18.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season. The big difference for Denver has been Michael Porter Jr. who has been averaging 29.25 points per game in the Nuggets’ last four assignments.
The Nuggets are 18th in the NBA in scoring at 111.2 points per game. They are also 10th in the league in scoring defense at 108.6 points per game allowed. Denver ranks 18th in rebounding at 44.3 boards grabbed per contest and they are 4th in passing at 26.6 assists per game. After playing the Lakers on Monday, the Nuggets will face the Clippers on Wednesday night, and then they will close out their seeding games assignment against the defending champions Toronto Raptors on Friday.
The Lakers have stepped on the breaks after they were assured of the #1 seed in the East. Los Angeles has lost its last three assignments and they head to this Monday contest after dropping a 111-116 game to the Indiana Pacers LeBron James returned to play against Indiana and the King scored 31 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and issued seven assists in the loss. Anthony Davis scored just 8 points on 3-14 shooting as the Lakers lost for the first time this season when James scored at least 30 points.
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers this season with averages of 26.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game. LeBron James is the league’s leader passer at 10.3 assists per game and the King is also scoring 25.4 points per game. Kyle Kuzma is the third double-digit scorer in Los Angeles at 12.6 points per game. New addition Dion Waiters is averaging 10.4 points per game in five games played in Orlando.
The Lakers are the 11th best scoring team in the league this season at 113.2 points per game. They are the 2nd best defensive team in the NBA at 107.0 points per game allowed this year. Los Angeles is 8th in the league in rebounding at 45.9 boards grabbed per contest and they are 10th in passing at 25.3 assists per game. The Lakers have not pushed their stars in their last three games and they have been content to coast in their last three games.
Denver is 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played. The Nuggets are 3-2 SU in their last five games played at home and 6-3 SU in their last nine games against the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is also 5-5 SU in their last five games played. The Lakers are 2-3 SU in their last five games played on the road, 11-3 SU in their last 14 games played against the Northwest Division, and 1-4 SU in their last five August games. Head to head, these teams have split their last 10 meetings but the Lakers have won two out of their last two encounters.
The Lakers seem to have hit the breaks after they clinched the top spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles has lost three straight games and they seem to be resting their starters for the playoffs. We’ve seen the Sixers lose Simmons and possibly Embiid. The Lakers cannot afford to lose any of their stars. They have invested too much this season for everything to go to naught because of injuries.
Denver is still chasing the L.A. Clippers for the 2nd seed in the West. The Nuggets are just one game behind the Clippers right not. Denver has been playing well as of late and they have won three out of their last four games played in Orlando. I think that the Nuggets will be the hungrier team here and the Lakers will be more concerned with keeping their stars healthy. The Lakers are the better team but I don’t trust them when it comes to winning games or covering the spread. Give me the plus money and the underdogs.
PREDICTION: DENVER NUGGETS
The Nuggets are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played. Denver is 2-5 ATS in their last seven games played on the road. The Lakers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games played. Los Angeles is 2-3 ATS in their last five games played on the road. Head to head, these teams have split their last 10 meetings ATS but the Nuggets are 9-4 ATS when playing on the road against Los Angeles.
The Lakers have covered the spread in one of six games played in Orlando. They have nothing to play for here because they are already the top seed in the West. Denver is still trying to finalize its position in the standings. This game means more to them than the Lakers. Not only are the Nuggets playing better right now, but they are also putting up more than enough points in Orlando. Take the plus points and the Nuggets here.
PREDICTION: NUGGETS +5.5/strong>
The total has gone over in each of the last five games played by the Nuggets. The over is 3-2 in Denver’s last five games played on the road. The total has gone over in four out of the last five games played by Nuggets against the Western Conference. The under is 7-3 in the last 10 games played by the Lakers. The total has gone under in three out of the last five road games played by the Lakers. Los Angeles has seen the total go under in eight out of their last 10 games played against the Nuggets. Head to head, the under is 5-4-1 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
These teams are on opposite poles as far as the total is concerned. The Nuggets are 5-0 in their last five assignments while the Lakers have seen the total go under in seven out of their last nine games played. Denver ranks 29th in the league in pace while the Lakers are 3rd in defensive efficiency. Los Angeles seems to be coasting after clinching the top seed in the west. I’m not sure if the Lakers will push James and Davis hard in this game and that should affect the L.A. scoring.
PREDICTION: UNDER 221
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