Nuggets vs. Lakers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Saturday, April 20, 2024 - Bleacher Nation (2024)

The Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers take the court to start the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets are favored by 7 points in the matchup, which airs on ABC at 8:30 PM ET. The matchup has an over/under of 224 points.

Nuggets vs. Lakers Odds

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Nuggets and Lakers Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

When they have played as at least 7-point favorites this season, the Nuggets are 18-18-1 against the spread.

When they have played as at least 7-point underdogs this season, the Lakers are 3-1 against the spread.

These two teams average 232.9 points per game combined, 8.9 more than the total of 224.

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 3.0 more points per game (227) than this game’s total of 224 points.

The Nuggets’ average point total in matchups this season is 224.5, 0.5 points higher than the over/under in this game.

The average over/under for Los Angeles’ games this year is 11.5 more points than the point total of 224 for this outing.

Denver is 38-42-2 against the spread this season.

So far this year, the Lakers have compiled a 38-44-0 record against the spread.

Nuggets Stats & Insights

The Nuggets have a +431 scoring differential, topping opponents by 5.3 points per game. They’re putting up 114.9 points per game to rank 14th in the league and are giving up 109.6 per contest to rank sixth in the NBA.

The Nuggets record 44.4 rebounds per game (seventh in the league) while allowing 42.3 per outing to their opponents. They outrebound opponents by 2.1 boards per game.

Denver knocks down 11.7 three-pointers per game (25th in the league) compared to its opponents’ 11.2. It shoots 37.4% from deep while its opponents hit 35.5% from long range.

The Nuggets record 119.4 points per 100 possessions (fifth in the league), while allowing 113.9 points per 100 possessions (eighth in the NBA).

In the 2023-24 season, the Nuggets are scoring 7.3 more points per home game on average than on the road (118.5 at home, 111.2 on the road), but are allowing 1.8 fewer points per home game compared to road games (108.7 at home, 110.5 on the road).

Lakers Stats & Insights

The Lakers have a +49 scoring differential, putting up 118.0 points per game (sixth in league) and giving up 117.4 (23rd in NBA).

Los Angeles ranks 18th in the league at 43.1 rebounds per game. That’s similar to the 44.0 its opponents average.

The Lakers knock down 2.5 fewer threes per game than the opposition, 11.8 (24th in the league) compared to their opponents’ 14.3.

The Lakers rank 15th in the NBA with 116.7 points scored per 100 possessions, and 16th defensively with 116.1 points conceded per 100 possessions.

In 2023-24 Los Angeles is averaging 2.0 more points per game at home (119.0) than away (117.0).

Nuggets Key Players to Watch

The Nuggets get 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists from Nikola Jokic.

Michael Porter Jr. makes more threes per game than any other (active) member of the Nuggets, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 2.7 per contest.

Jokic averages 1.4 steals per game, while Peyton Watson has 1.1 blocks per contest.

Lakers Key Players to Watch

Anthony Davis is at the top of the Lakers scoring and rebounding leaderboards with 24.7 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game to go with 3.5 assists per contest this season.

LeBron James has per-game averages of 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds this season.

D’Angelo Russell knocks down 3.0 threes per game.

Davis is a strong defender with 1.2 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.

Nuggets vs. Lakers Prediction

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