The Los Angeles Lakers (30-36) will be at home in Staples Center when they take on the Denver Nuggets (37-30). The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 232.5 points with Denver opening as a 2-point favorite. Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, and it can be seen on NBATV.
Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers ATS Preview
In the Nuggets’ last outing, they easily got past the Sacramento Kings, 130-104. With 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, Nikola Jokic led the way for Denver with his sixth triple-double of the season. The Nuggets held the Kings to an offensive rebounding percentage of 14.0 (below their season average of 21.7) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.646 (above their season average of 0.534).
The Lakers hope to maintain momentum after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last matchup, 127-113. Los Angeles received a boost from Julius Randle, who was the game’s leading scorer with 36 points on 14-for-18 shooting. The Lakers, who came into the game averaging an offensive rebounding percentage of 24.0, had a solid mark of 31.8 and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.568 (above their season average of 0.517).
Points at the line might be few and far between for Los Angeles in this battle. The Lakers rank 23rd in the NBA with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.181, while Denver ranks fourth in FTA rate allowed (0.175).
Of Denver’s 67 games, 34 have finished over the O/U total, while 37 of Los Angeles’ 66 games have finished over the projected point total. The Nuggets have the superior straight up (SU) record (37-30 vs. 30-36), but the Lakers hold the substantial advantage against the spread (ATS) (36-30 vs. 31-33-3).
Randle and Brook Lopez have played well over the last five games for Los Angeles. Randle has averaged 20.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while Lopez has put up 18.8 points per game.
These two teams have already met three times this year, with the Nuggets leading the series two games to one. Lopez led both teams with 29 points in the most recent matchup, in which the Lakers lost 125-116, unable to cover as 8-point underdogs. The two teams combined to score 241 points, which was 10 points above the projected point total of 231 points. The Nuggets played a nearly flawless game. They had a superb free throw rate of 0.313 and a turnover percentage of 11.1. For those same stats, the Lakers were 0.130 and 13.2, respectively.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Free Prediction
Free Pick: SU Winner – Lakers, ATS Winner – Lakers, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Lakers rank sixth in assists per game (24.0) while the Nuggets rank 25th in assists allowed per game (24.5).
- Denver ranks 15th in blocks allowed per game (4.8) while Los Angeles ranks 27th (5.6).
- Denver averages 17.4 points off turnovers per game, which ranks ninth in the league. Los Angeles ranks 26th in points off turnovers allowed per game (18.7).
- Denver averages 30.5 three pointers per game, which ranks eighth in the league. Los Angeles ranks 19th in three pointers allowed per game (30.1).
- Denver is 12-17-2 ATS on the road with 16 overs and 15 unders.
- Los Angeles is 18-14 ATS at home with 17 overs and 15 unders.
- In games where they hold opponents below 100 points, Denver is 13-2 and Los Angeles is 11-3.
- The Nuggets are 31-21 when they score above 100 points, while the Lakers are 27-23.
- The Lakers average 17.2 fast break points per game, which ranks second in the NBA. The Nuggets rank 19th in fast break points allowed per game (12.3).
- Denver ranks second in second chance points allowed per game (10.5) while Los Angeles ranks 28th (13.6).
- The Nuggets rank fourth in points in the paint per game (49.5) while the Lakers rank 29th in points allowed in the paint per game (48.7).
- The Lakers average 8.1 steals per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. The Nuggets rank 21st in steals allowed per game (8.1).
- Denver ranks first in rebounds allowed per game (41.0) while Los Angeles ranks 24th (44.8).
Bettings Trends:
- Los Angeles is 2-3 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Denver is 3-2 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
- The Lakers have outscored opponents by an average of 1.0 point in their last five games. For the season, Los Angeles has been defeated by an average of 1.5 points.
- During their last five games, the Nuggets have scored an average of 119.2 points per game (10.0 above their season average) and allowed an average of 113.6 points per game (5.7 above their season average).