by Rod Pearson
Friday, Mar 13, 2026
Game Time: 8:30 pm ET, Saturday, March 14, 2026
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to Watch: ABC
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Nuggets -1.5, Lakers +1.5; Over/Under: 241.5 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Nuggets -1.5, Lakers +1.5; Over/Under: 241.5 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Nuggets -1.5, Lakers +1.5; Over/Under: 241.5 points
Season Record
Denver Nuggets: 41-26 (2nd place, Northwest Division)
Los Angeles Lakers: 41-25 (1st place, Pacific Division)
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Recent Form
Denver Nuggets: 5-5 last 10
Los Angeles Lakers: 7-3 last 10
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Analysis
The Nuggets are entering this game with a 41-26 record overall this season and they are 23-13 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs. Jamal Murray led the team in points in that game with 39 while Nikola Jokić was next on the team with 31 points. Nikola Jokić led the team in assists in that game with 12 while Nikola Jokić led the team in rebounds with 20. They were 50% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range, and 94.7% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 120.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 116.5 PPG against them. The Nuggets have an ATS record of 38-29 this season and their O/U record is 42-25.
The Lakers are entering this game with a 41-25 record overall this season and they are 22-12 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 4 game winning streak with wins coming against the Indiana Pacers, the New York Knicks, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Chicago Bulls. Luka Dončić led the team in points in that game with 51 while Austin Reaves was next on the team with 30 points. Luka Dončić led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Deandre Ayton and Luka Dončić each led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 55.6% from the field, 47.2% from 3-point range, and 71.4% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 116.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 115.1 PPG against them. The Lakers have an ATS record of 37-29 this season and their O/U record is 34-32.
Nuggets vs Lakers Prediction
The current betting odds have the Lakers listed as a 1.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Lakers have looked good in their games this season with their 41-25 record overall which has them right near the top of the West. They have looked great on their home court too with their 22-12 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have looked good in their games this season with their 41-26 record overall which has them in the top half of the West. They have been a great road team too with their 23-13 road record this year. The Nuggets are off a huge win over the Spurs in their last one and they have some momentum now with 2 wins in a row. They were trailing by over 20 points against the Spurs in that last one and they mounted a huge comeback in the 2nd half to win that one, but this could be a bit of a let down game for them now after the way they won that one. They haven't looked that great lately either, going 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Lakers have been rolling in their games though and they are starting to get hot again. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and they have a ton of momentum on their side with 4 wins in a row now. They have figured something out on this streak and they have been beating some really good teams during this streak too. Their last loss before this 4 game winning streak was a 7 point loss on the road against the Nuggets too, so the Lakers are going to be looking to get them back at home now that they are clicking. The Nuggets needed a big effort to come back late against the Spurs in that last one, so look for the Lakers to take advantage of them off that win and continue rolling on their home court like they have been doing lately. The best way to place a bet here is on the Lakers to cover the spread in this game.
Nuggets Lakers Prediction: Our NBA Pick for Saturday, March 14, 2026 (8:30 pm ET start time) is Lakers 124 Nuggets 117.
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NBA Betting Trends
Denver Nuggets: 23-13 ATS in road games. 6-3 ATS on the road when the line is +3 to -3. 21-13 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record. 10-5 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%).
Los Angeles Lakers: 10-16 ATS as an underdog. 1-4 ATS after scoring 136 points or more. 4-7 ATS at home versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game. 10-5 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%).
Key Injuries
Denver Nuggets: A. Gordon (PF) Day To Day - Hamstring. P. Watson (SF) Out - Hamstring.
Los Angeles Lakers: M. Smart (PG) Day To Day - Hip. J. Hayes (C) Day To Day - Back. M. Kleber (PF) Out - Back.
Notable Quotes
"Yeah, he's just so mentally tough. He was questionable coming down here. My thought process was he wasn't going to play. We already had a different starting lineup in place. [He] felt better, we talked about before the game. He's just such immensely tough guy." - David Adelman on Jamal Murray after his team’s win against the Spurs in their game on Thursday.
“There's a clear pecking order when Luka and AR are on the floor together with guys that are low usage players. That's just the nature of it. And that's the nature of nearly every Big 3 that's ever existed. We're gonna get there. And I think we've seen some positive signs, and I know LeBron, he recognizes the importance of having Luka as the engine. All he really wants is to impact winning.” - J.J. Redick after his team’s win against the Bulls in their game on Thursday.
Starting Lineups
Denver Nuggets
PG Jamal Murray
SG Christian Braun
SF Cameron Johnson
PF Aaron Gordon
C Nikola Jokic
Los Angeles Lakers
PG Luka Doncic
SG Austin Reaves
SF Marcus Smart
PF LeBron James
C Deandre Ayton
Statistical Leaders
Denver Nuggets
PPG: Nikola Jokic (28.7)
APG: Nikola Jokic (10.4)
Reb/G: Nikola Jokic (12.7)
Los Angeles Lakers
PPG: Luka Doncic (32.9)
APG: Luka Doncic (8.5)
Reb/G: Deandre Ayton (8.3)
Coaches:
Denver Nuggets: David Adelman (2nd season)
Los Angeles Lakers: JJ Redick (2nd season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
