Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/3/2022

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

Where to watch: ABC

DraftKings: Nuggets -3.5

BetMGM: Nuggets -3.5

Caesars: NL

Nuggets: 46-32

Lakers: 31-46

Well, I think we’ve officially run out of things to say regarding the Los Angeles Lakers. Other than the fact that they’re done and we need to just accept the fact that a LeBron James and Anthony Davis-led team is not going to help them in these final games.

 

You look at that sequence in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans and you can see that. Los Angeles just fell apart defensively in the final four minutes, and LeBron couldn’t hit a shot from the broad sign of a barn.

 

And now there’s another tough game on the horizon for the Lakers when they host the Denver Nuggets on Sunday in what should be an absolute crusher at the hands of the road team. The Lakers have to play these last few games with some sort of urgency. And I’m firmly believing in the trenches that this is that important moment where the Lakers try to not suck.

 

As of this moment, it’s hard not to think otherwise when it comes to the Lakers. No matter who’s in the lineup or not, they’re finding ways to lose games and relegate even back further back in the standings. Because of the incompetence between those surrounding LeBron and Davis it has become quite the embarrassment. We could turn this into another 1,000 words about the inability of Russell Westbrook to play point guard in this league going forward, and I’m not prepared to go that route because I don’t think Russell Westbrook is deserving of century mark of words.

 

Then again, this team isn’t deserving of much words as is. We’re talking about a group that made so many waves in the offseason to come back and just completely fall off the face of the planet the way they have. Think about it this way: The Lakers are currently behind the New Orleans Pelicans, who have not had Zion Williamson all season, but actually took advantage of the trade deadline, bought in and acquired CJ McCollum.

 

They’re also behind the San Antonio Spurs, who SOLD AT THE DEADLINE by moving on from Derrick White and essentially giving all the keys of the San Antonio backcourt to Dejounte Murray. And when this is all said and done, the Lakers could find themselves on the outside looking in. It’s such a sad state of affairs that I have no words for it.

 

At least the Nuggets, for all the craziness they’ve had to endure this year without having Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray, and yet still have Nikola Jokic putting up MVP-like numbers, is a masterful coaching job by Mike Malone. Maybe that’s what the problem is, but will the Lakers ever admit it themselves after winning the title just two years ago? Who knows at this point?

 

The Nuggets are currently in a tough battle in trying to build up playoff positioning, precisely with the Utah Jazz for the 5-6 seed. The chances of catching the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 4 or even Golden State Warriors at No. 3 are hopeless, but at least Denver is going to avoid the play-in and provide a decent matchup.

Asking the Lakers to win this game is just too daunting a task for the moment. You’re asking Davis, who just returned to the lineup after a lengthy absence, to go from facing Jonas Valanciunas to going against Nikola Jokic? LeBron’s already been on an island long enough with this group, and in a must-win game, you’re going to have to get that from him again. Jokic goes off for another triple-double probably, and Denver’s depth and speed will run the Lakers out of Crypto.com Arena. By the way, have we considered that to be the issue? Since they changed the name of the Staples Center back on Christmas Day, it’s gone downhill from there. I’m just spitballing, but man does that sound like a coincidence? Nuggets by 16

The Nuggets are 21-30 ATS as a favorite this season.

The Nuggets are 21-7 ATS the last three seasons after failing to cover four of their last five against the spread.

The Lakers are 16-17 ATS as an underdog this season.

The Lakers are 6-12 ATS off a home loss this season.

PG: Monte Morris

SG: Will Barton

SF: Aaron Gordon

PF: Jeff Green

C: Nikola Jokic

PG: Russell Westbrook

SG: Austin Reaves

SF: LeBron James

PF: Stanley Johnson

C: Anthony Davis

Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr. (back, out), Jamal Murray (ACL, out)

Lakers: None

Points: Nikola Jokic -- 26.6

Rebounds: Nikola Jokic -- 13.6

Assists: Nikola Jokic -- 8.0

Points: LeBron James -- 30.3

Rebounds: LeBron James -- 8.2

Assists: Russell Westbrook -- 7.1