The Los Angeles Lakers (47-35) travel to face off against the Denver Nuggets (57-25) on Saturday, April 20th. This game will be played at Ball Arena in Denver and televised on ABC. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 8:30 ET.

Lakers vs Nuggets

The Lakers Are Coming Off A Win

Most recently, the Lakers bested the Pelicans with a score of 124-108. The Lakers entered the game as the underdogs by +1.5, resulting in both a straight-up and ATS win. The over/under line for this matchup was set at 231.5 points, and the teams managed to exceed that total.

As we get ready for today’s game, the Lakers are looking to build on their two game win streak and have an overall record of 47-35. In the Western Conference, the Lakers are currently in 7th place and are 3rd in the Pacific division.

Los Angeles’ ATS record sits below .500 (38-44). Los Angeles has not been good vs. the spread in their last two home games, and they are 20-22 ATS at home compared to 18-22 on the road.

The Nuggets Are Coming Off A Win

The Nuggets’ most recent game versus the Grizzlies saw Jamal Murray lead the Nuggets with 21 points while shooting 7/14 from the field. The Nuggets picked up a 126-111 win, and Christian Braun also added 19 points which was 2nd on the team.

With a 57-25 overall record, the Nuggets are above .500 as they prepare to take on the Lakers. At home, they are 33-8 while going 24-17 on the road this season.

Denver has an overall ATS record of 38-42 as they come into today’s game. This season, Denver has a 33-37 record against the spread when they are favored, and they are 5-5 when playing as underdogs.

Lakers Offense Breakdown

Heading into play, the Lakers’ offense is rated 6th in the league in scoring, averaging 118 points per contest.

LeBron James is averaging 30.5 points per game over his last four games while shooting 60% from the field. In these games, he also averaged 11.2 assists per contest. Anthony Davis has put up 23 points and 10.5 rebounds in his last four games. The Lakers are hoping to have both players in the lineup, as James is probable with an ankle injury, and Davis is probable with a back injury.

Los Angeles is one of the more efficient shooting teams in the league this season, as they have hit 49% of their shots from the field. This is the 3rd best mark in the NBA. Overall, they are 6th in scoring at 118 points per game. The Lakers are also 4th in pace this year.

Nuggets Offense Breakdown

The Nuggets come into today’s game as the 13th ranked scoring offense at 114.9 points per game.

Denver comes into the game as the NBA’s 13th-ranked scoring offense, averaging 114.9 points per game. Their average of 118.5 points per game at home is 9th in the league. The Nuggets are near the bottom of the league in three-point attempts and three-point makes. Overall, they have a field goal percentage of 49%, which is the 4th best mark in the league.

Nikola Jokic is averaging 25 points per game over his last five games on a field goal percentage of 64.9%. In these games, he hit 77.8% of his threes and averaged 1.4 made threes per game. He also averaged 12 rebounds and 8.4 assists in these games. For the season, Jokic is averaging 26.4 points, 9 assists, and 12.4 rebounds. Jamal Murray’s season scoring average is 21.2 points per game, and he has averaged 24 points per game in his last five games while hitting 47.4% of his threes.

Lakers Team Defense

Coming into the game, the Lakers’ defense is giving up an average of 117.4 points per game. So far, they have given up more points than the NBA league average in 57.3% of their games. Inside the arc, the Lakers defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 54.1% and 37.7% from three-point territory.

Nuggets Team Defense

Coming into the game, the Nuggets defense has held opposing team’s to fewer points than the league average in 25.6% of their games. Currently, they are 7th in the NBA at 109.6 points per game allowed. Opponents are hitting 52.4% of their two-point field goal attempts this season, and they’re also connecting on 35.4% of their three-point attempts.

Key Players For The Lakers And Nuggets

Our game forecasts for today suggest that LeBron James is set to be the main scorer for the Lakers, recording 26 points and shooting 10/18 from the field. Throughout this season, his average stands at 25.7 points per game, along with 7.3 rebounds.

On the flip side, our predictions place Nikola Jokic as the leading scorer for the Nuggets. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 27 while also collecting 12 rebounds. This season, he is shooting at a field goal percentage of 58.3%, and his scoring average is 26.4 points per game.

Lakers vs Nuggets Trends

• In their last ten games away from home, the Lakers have a straight up record of 8-2 while going 6-4 vs. the spread. The team averaged 118 points per game in this stretch.
• When looking at their past three matchups at home, Denver has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 119 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
• Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Lakers have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 2-3.
• The Nuggets have played well in their last five games as the betting favorite, going 4-1 straight up and 4-1 against the spread.

Lakers vs Nuggets Prediction

The Lakers come in as the underdog at +7, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 224 and our model has the Lakers and Nuggets finishing with a combined 232 points. Our pick is to take the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are 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.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.