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The Denver Nuggets (42-24) are hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (40-24) in a conference tilt on Friday. The Nuggets have lost two of their last three games. On Wednesday, Denver was blown out 115-95 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers are winless on this four-game road trip, dropping three games in a row. The Milwaukee Bucks beat Los Angeles 126-106 on Thursday. LeBron James (groin) and Luka Doncic (calf) have been ruled out for the Lakers. Aaron Gordon (ankle) is questionable for Denver, with Nikola Jokic (elbow) and Jamal Murray (knee) listed as probable.
Tipoff from Ball Arena in Denver is at 9:30 p.m. ET. The teams have split two meetings this season, with the road team winning each time. The Nuggets are 14.5-point favorites in the latest Lakers vs. Nuggets odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 227.5, a decrease from opening at 232. Before locking in any Nuggets vs. Lakers picks, make sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 21 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 148-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 19-10 (65%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has simulated Lakers vs. Nuggets 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Lakers vs. Nuggets:
- Lakers vs. Nuggets spread: Denver -14.5
- Lakers vs. Nuggets over/under: 227.5 points
- Lakers vs. Nuggets money line: Denver -1124, Los Angeles +710
- LAL: Lakers are 35-28-1 against the spread this season
- DEN: Nuggets are 32-32-1 against the spread this season
- Lakers vs. Nuggets picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Lakers vs. Nuggets streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Lakers can cover
Rookie Dalton Knecht is in line for a heavy workload with the various Lakers injuries, but he’s shown that he’s up to the task. Across nine games in which he’s played 30-plus minutes, Knecht is averaging 20.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. He’s also scoring efficiently with these increased opportunities, with shooting percentages of 53.6% from the field and a blistering 50% from beyond the arc across these nine contests.
Guard Austin Reaves provides this team with another three-level scorer who can facilitate. Reaves logs 18.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per contest. In the March 10 loss to the Nets, Reaves had 17 points and 10 assists. This was his fifth double-double this season with 10-plus assists. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Nuggets can cover
Center Jokic (probable) continues to be an impactful playmaker for Denver. Jokic currently ranks third in the NBA in points (29) and rebounds (12.9) while being second in assists (10.4). He’s also 10th in the league in field-goal percentage (57.7%). In his last outing, Jokic racked up 34 points, eight boards and four assists. He’s scored at least 30 points in three of his last four games.
Forward Michael Porter Jr. is able to stretch the floor as a shooter and has a solid mid-range game. Porter Jr. averages 18.3 points, seven rebounds, and shoots 40% from downtown. On March 9 against the Thunder, he finished with 24 points and 15 boards. That marked his 12th double-double this season. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Lakers vs. Nuggets picks
SportsLine’s model has simulated Lakers vs. Nuggets and is leaning Over the total, projecting 229 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 70% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks.
So who wins Lakers vs. Nuggets on Friday, and which side of the spread hits in almost 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lakers vs. Nuggets spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
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