The Denver Nuggets Head to Los Angeles to Battle the Lakers

There are huge implications for both teams in this game. On one side, you have the Denver Nuggets, who could improve their standing in the Western Conference with a win. However, they’ll have to get through LeBron James and the Lakers. We can’t downplay the importance of this game for Los Angeles. So, can Denver find a way to keep LeBron James from taking over?

The Los Angeles Lakers desperately need guidance. They find themselves outside of the top ten in the Western Conference. This means that if they don’t win multiple games soon, they’ll miss the playoffs. Now, you could blame it on Anthony Davis being gone, but that isn’t their only problem. This is a must-win game for the Lakers, as a loss, their playoff chances will diminish.

Game Preview: Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers, April 3

The Denver Nuggets recently showed off their defense when they played the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets, one of the best offenses in the NBA, only scored 109 against Denver. Denver went on to win the game 113-109 and held onto their spot in the West. On Sunday, they’ll take on a worse offense, but definitely one they’re familiar with. Denver will also be missing a few players.

The Los Angeles Lakers can take advantage of the fact that the Nuggets are missing players. However, we’ve seen in recent games that they can’t even beat Washington Wizards. At the time of writing, the Lakers are on a three-game losing streak. This recent stretch has taken them out of playoff contention. With a few games left, this is their last chance to get into the playoffs. 

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers Betting Prediction

The Denver Nuggets have been pretty fantastic on the road this season. At this moment, they’re 23-16 when playing on the road. When you compare that to the Lakers’ home record of 20-18, you can see this game being close. However, when you look at how the Lakers have performed against the spread at home, it tells a different story. At home, Los Angeles is 16-22 ATS.

The last time these two teams played each other was in mid-January of 2022. The Nuggets came into the game as 4.5-point favorites and easily won 133-96. The Lakers were no match for Jokic, and the outcome is likely to be the game in this game. They beat the Lakers by 37 points, so we’ll take the Nuggets regardless of the spread. 

The next thing to decide is the total.

Betting on the total in this one is really interesting because of the previous game. In the last game, the total went over, but not because of the Lakers. The question is, can Denver pull off another win like that and cover it on their own? In their last three games against the Lakers, the total has gone over, so we’ll take the over as well. 

• All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds are subject to change.
• All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.

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* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.