Nuggets vs Lakers NBA Week 21 Odds & Game Analysis

Time is running out for the Los Angeles Lakers as their playoff chances are very slim and get slimmer with each loss. LeBron James hasn’t missed the playoffs since his first two seasons in the league. His LA Lakers should be short NBA odds on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets, which is battling for the West’s top seed.

How to Bet Nuggets vs Lakers NBA Week 21 Odds & Game Info

The last time we played the Lakers, we had our biggest margin of victory in franchise history against them, winning 117-85. #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/k09vHAcpx4

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) 6 de marzo de 2019

2019 NBA Championship Odds

Season Series

They split two early-season meetings, both winning at home. The one in L.A. was a 121-114 Lakers win. James had 28 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds while leading a late rally for his first home victory with the Lakers. Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and JaVale McGee added 21.

The Lakers trailed by eight points with six minutes left in the fourth quarter before Lance Stephenson, who finished with 12 points, started a 15-2 rally with back-to-back 3-pointers. LA was without the suspended Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo. Nikola Jokic scored 24 points for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray scored 22 points and Monte Morris had 20.

Why Bet on Denver?

The Nuggets’ chances of catching the Warriors for the top seed in the West have faded a bit on a three-game losing streak. They were 104-103 losers at San Antonio on Monday. Denver rallied from 21 points down and held San Antonio scoreless over the final 2 1/2 minutes, getting the final nine points to pull within one, but missed three shots and had a turnover in the final 16.2 seconds.

Gary Harris missed a turnaround 3-pointer over Patty Mills from the left corner off as time expired. Terrible shot selection. Harris played in his sixth game and made just his second start since missing four games with a groin injury. He finished 3 for 9 from the field while scoring eight points in 27 minutes.

Jamal Murray scored a game-high 25 points, hitting 8-of-19 shots and 3-of-3 free throws. He did all his damage in 28 minutes, racking up eight assists, two rebounds, one steal, six triples, and four turnovers. Murray has battled through a variety of injuries this season, but he’s healthy and on fire right now with 20+ points in four straight games with 15 3-pointers in that span. He’s averaging 21.0 points vs. LA this season. Murray really should have gotten the last shot in Monday’s loss. Or Nikola Jokic, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds.

One magic number for this team is 30. The Nuggets have dished out 30+ assists in a game 22 times this season and their record is 50-13 under coach Mike Malone’s tenure when accomplishing this. The 22 games also rank ninth in Nuggets history for most games in a season with 30+ assists.

Denver ranks second in the NBA averaging 27.6 assists per game and they are converting those assists at a high rate, ranking second in the league with 65.2% of their field goals coming off an assist.

Team Stats

Offense

• Total Score: 112.06
• Field Goal Percentage: 46.85
• Three-Point Percentage: 35.58
• Free Throw Percentage: 75.50
• Total Rebounds: 46.81

Defense

• Total Score: 107.16
• Field Goal Percentage: 45.81
• Three-Point Percentage: 34.22
• Free Throw Percentage: 75.29
• Total Rebounds: 41.97

Why Bet on LA Lakers?

The Lakers’ playoff hopes are all but gone as they are 2-5 since the All-Star break after being upset 113-105 at home to the Clippers on Monday. The 16-time NBA champions have all but fallen apart in February and March. The Lakers are in 10th place in the West, sitting 5 1/2 games behind San Antonio for the final playoff spot with 18 to play.

LeBron James scored 27 points Monday to go with eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, one triple, and two turnovers in 42 minutes in the loss. The Lakers are 1-5 since LeBron said he was going to “activate playoff mode.” James said that despite the Lakers’ fading playoff chances, he does not plan to sit out any games. “That would take a lot of convincing from Luke [Walton] on up,” said James. “Unless I’m hurt, I’m not sitting games.”

Kyle Kuzma tweaked his right ankle on Monday and was limping badly after the game. He also had an off night, finishing 5-of-15 from the field for 13 points, six rebounds, one assist and one triple in 36 minutes. Coach Luke Walton said he doubts Kuzma will be able to play on Wednesday.

Josh Hart scored 17 points vs. the Clippers with four rebounds, one block and two triples in 30 minutes. This was his first game reaching 30 minutes since Jan. 29 which was a result of the Lakers missing Brandon Ingram (shoulder) combined with the poor play of their other wings.

Ingram developed right shoulder soreness after the morning shootaround and sat. Ingram had played in 50 straight games, averaging 18.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. Ingram (shoulder), Tyson Chandler (neck) and Lance Stephenson (toe) are all questionable to play on Wednesday. Lonzo Ball remains out with his long-term ankle injury.

Team Stats

Offense

• Total Score: 112.31
• Field Goal Percentage: 47.38
• Three-Point Percentage: 33.62
• Free Throw Percentage: 69.12
• Total Rebounds: 46.44

Defense

• Total Score: 113.92
• Field Goal Percentage: 45.19
• Three-Point Percentage: 34.91
• Free Throw Percentage: 79.22
• Total Rebounds: 46.92

2019 NBA Finals Possible Matchups

Nuggets vs Lakers NBA Week 21 Betting Trends

• Home team is 8-0 ATS in the last 8 meetings
• Over is 5-1-2 in the last 8 meetings in Los Angeles
• Denver is 5-13 ATS in its last 18 games on the road
• Denver is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Denver’s last 8 games on the road
• LA is 7-16 ATS in its last 23 games when playing Denver
• LA is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games when playing Denver
• The total has gone OVER in 10 of LA Lakers’s last 14 games when playing Denver

Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Nuggets vs Lakers

Denver Nuggets 113 – Los Angeles Lakers 110