The Los Angeles Lakers (30-34) will be at home in the Staples Center when they take on the Denver Nuggets (42-21). Action gets underway at 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, and can be seen on ESPN.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers ATS Odds
Both teams lost in their last contest. The Nuggets (1.5-point underdogs) were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs, 104-103, while the Lakers (4-point favorites) fell to the Los Angeles Clippers, 113-105. The Denver game finished 23 points under the projected point total of 230, while the Los Angeles game went 17.5 points under the projected point total of 235.5.
The Nuggets held the Spurs to an offensive rebounding percentage of 14.6 (below their season average of 21.2), while the Lakers had a better turnover percentage (10.6 vs. 11.4). Rajon Rondo played well for Los Angeles, accumulating 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds on his way to his zeroth triple-double of the season. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic was a key piece for Denver with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
The Nuggets had the upper hand in the most recent game, a 117-85 blowout victory, to even the season series at one. Millsap recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Denver out-rebounded Los Angeles. The Nuggets had 16 offensive rebounds and 60 total rebounds, while the Lakers had eight and 39, respectively. Denver covered as a 3-point favorite and the two teams combined to score 202 points, which was well under the projected point total of 219.
A little over half of the Nuggets’ games have finished under the total. Denver heads into the contest with records of 42-21 straight up (SU) and 34-29 against the spread (ATS).
Vegas has a tendency to place the total high when the Lakers are involved, as 59.4 percent of their games have ended under the total. Moreover, Los Angeles owns records of 30-34 SU and 25-37-2 ATS.
It will be a matchup of opposite paces as the up-and-down Lakers (ranked third in the league in possessions per game) will look to push the more methodical Nuggets (23rd in possessions per game). Also, the Nuggets, who rank first in offensive rebounding percentage (27.4 percent), will go head-to-head against the Lakers, who rank 23rd in defensive rebounding percentage (76.3 percent).
Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers Pick
NBA Pick: SU Winner – Lakers, ATS Winner – Lakers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Lakers average 5.4 blocks per game, which ranks ninth in the NBA. The Nuggets rank 16th in blocks allowed per game (5.1).
- Denver ranks first in rebounds allowed per game (42.0) while Los Angeles ranks 26th (46.9).
- The Nuggets rank fourth in points in the paint per game (53.3) while the Lakers rank 24th in points allowed in the paint per game (51.1).
- Denver ranks second in second chance points per game (15.5) while Los Angeles ranks 20th (13.0).
- Denver ranks 13th in steals per game (7.9) while Los Angeles ranks 26th in steals allowed per game (8.4).
- The Nuggets rank sixth in points off turnovers allowed per game (15.1) while the Lakers rank 28th (18.3).
- The Nuggets rank second in assists per game (27.6) while the Lakers rank 19th in assists allowed per game (24.8).
- Denver averages 31.1 three pointers per game, which ranks 16th in the NBA. Los Angeles ranks 21st in three pointers allowed per game (33.1).
- Denver ranks fifth in fast break points allowed per game (11.6) while Los Angeles ranks 26th (15.4).
- Los Angeles is 7-0 when they hold opponents below 100 points, while Denver is 19-1.
- In games where they reach 100 points, the Lakers are 29-28 and the Nuggets are 40-16.
- Denver is 12-18 ATS on the road, while Los Angeles is 11-19-2 ATS at home.
- Of the Nuggets’ 30 road games, they have 18 unders and 12 overs.
- In 32 home games, the Lakers have 22 unders and 10 overs.
Bettings Trends:
- The Nuggets are 3-2 ATS over their last five games, while the Lakers are 0-5.
- In their last five games, Denver has 5 unders, while Los Angeles has 3 unders and 2 overs.
- During their last five games, the Nuggets have scored an average of 112.6 points per game (0.5 above their season average) and allowed an average of 108.6 points per game (1.4 above their season average).
- The Lakers’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 5.4, up from 1.6 for the season.
