The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets will go head-to-head on Thursday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets earned a victory in Game 1 and can take a commanding series lead with a victory on Thursday. The NBA odds are in Denver’s favor, but this Lakers team won’t back down. L.A. made things interesting in Game 1 and should keep things competitive once again in this exciting NBA matchup.
Some sportsbooks and also Bovada NBA odds will have the Nuggets listed as favorites, anyways it will be intriguing to see how the Lakers fare in the game. Tip-off is set for 8:30 PM EST on Thursday, May 18, at Ball Arena in Denver, CO. Let’s take a look at Lakers vs Nuggets predictions, NBA picks, and NBA playoffs betting odds.
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Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Facts & Trends
- The Los Angeles Lakers are 49-46-1 against the spread this season.
- The Lakers are 22-25-1 against the spread when playing on the road.
- Los Angeles is 28-29-1 against the spread when playing as an underdog.
- They are 17-21-1 against the spread as an away underdog.
- The Denver Nuggets are 51-42-1 against the spread this year.
- The Nuggets are 30-17-1 against the spread when playing at home.
- Denver is 37-34-1 against the spread when playing as a favorite.
- They are 26-17-1 against the spread as a home favorite.
The Los Angeles Lakers are listed as the underdog in this game. L.A. has been a decent team against the spread, but the Nuggets have consistently found ways to cover this year.
Denver has been especially impressive at home. They simply find ways to perform better in front of their home fans. That said, the Lakers will not go down without a fight. Los Angeles is going to compete without question. Covering the spread will be a possibility, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Matchup Information
The tip-off was set on the NBA schedule for 8:30 PM EST in Denver today. The Nuggets are favored to win the game. The spread, although fairly large, isn’t insurmountable by any means.
Before sharing our Nuggets vs Lakers predictions, let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and analysis for Game 2.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Odds
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Betting Previews
Betting on Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers were trailing by a large margin for most of the game on Tuesday. Denver held a big lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Lakers ended up out-scoring the Nuggets 34-26 in the final quarter of play. L.A. still lost 132-126, but they pushed Denver to the brink. The Lakers will likely carry a good amount of momentum into Thursday night.
Anthony Davis led the charge in Game 1, scoring 40 points on 14-23 shooting from the field. LeBron James added 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Austin Reaves contributed 23 points. The Lakers only had eight total available players due to injuries, so their effort was even more impressive, considering that.
L.A. still has a long way to go if they want to pull off an upset in the series. Falling down 0-2 against the Nuggets would be a potential death sentence, so the Lakers must win on Thursday evening. Bettors who make Lakers picks in this game may benefit, given L.A.’s momentum.
Betting on Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets were the top seed in the Western Conference. Although they didn’t receive much attention while teams like the Suns and Mavs made blockbuster trades during the season, the Denver Nuggets remained consistent.
Nikola Jokic, once again, demonstrated his dominance on Tuesday. He posted one of the best triple-doubles in recent memory, dropping 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 assists. Jokic turn the ball over five times, but that can be forgiven since he carried the Nuggets in almost every other category.
He did, however, receive help from teammates. Jamal Murray scored 31 points to go along with five assists, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 21 points. The Nuggets are clearly the team to beat, but they can’t take the Lakers for granted.
Injury Report
Los Angeles Lakers
- LeBron James (foot) is probable for Thursday’s game.
- Anthony Davis (foot) is probably for the contest.
- Mo Bamba (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday’s game.
Denver Nuggets
- Collin Gillespie has been dealing with injury concerns.
Denver has no other injuries to report.
Top Sportsbooks Odds
- Betonline: Denver Nuggets -5.5
- Bovada: Denver Nuggets -5.5
- MyBookie: Denver Nuggets -5.5
- BetUS: Denver Nuggets -5.5
- BetNow: Denver Nuggets -5.5
The Nuggets are favored by a fairly comfortable margin. Covering the spread will not be an easy task, though.
It is now time to make our Lakers vs Nuggets predictions.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Picks & Predictions
Which team should you ultimately place your money on? Will the Lakers be able to upset the odds on the road, or can the Nuggets take care of business once again?
Denver is going to be a popular pick in Game 2. They were one of the best NBA teams all season long, and betting against Nikola Jokic is about as risky as it gets. LeBron and AD are going to keep the Lakers in this game, though. Win or lose, the Lakers will cover the spread on Thursday night.
The Pick
Roll with the Los Angeles Lakers +5.5 to cover the spread in this Game 2 affair.
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