Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/16/2023

Game Time: 8:30 pm ET, Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Venue:  Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Lakers +5, Nuggets -5; Over/Under:  223 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Lakers +5, Nuggets -5; Over/Under:  223.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Lakers +4.5, Nuggets -4.5; Over/Under:  223.5 points

Los Angeles Lakers:  43-39 (5th place, Pacific Division)

Denver Nuggets:  53-29 (1st place, Northwest Division)

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Los Angeles Lakers:  7-3 last 10

Denver Nuggets:  7-3 last 10

The Lakers finished the regular season with a 43-39 record overall and they were 20-21 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off of a win against the Golden State Warriors in their last game. LeBron James led the team in points in that game with 30 while Austin Reaves was next on the team with 23 points. LeBron James led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Anthony Davis led the team in rebounds with 20. They were 52% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 73.8% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 116.6 PPG against them. The Lakers have an ATS record of 48-46-1 this season and their O/U record is 50-45.

The Nuggets finished the regular season with a 53-29 record overall and they were 34-7 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with both wins coming against the Phoenix Suns in their last 2 games. In game 6 of that series, Nikola Jokić led the team in points in that game with 32 while Jamal Murray was next on the team with 26 points. Nikola Jokić led the team in assists in that game with 12 while Nikola Jokić led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 53.7% from the field, 36.4% from 3-point range, and 93.5% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 115.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 112.5 PPG against them. The Nuggets have an ATS record of 51-41-1 this season and their O/U record is 44-48-1.

The current betting odds have the Nuggets listed as a 5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 1 of a 7-game series between the 1st seeded Nuggets and the 7th seeded Lakers for the Western Conference finals of the NBA playoffs. The Nuggets are entering this game as the number 1 seed in the West and they were also a very good team at home all year. They had one of the best home records in the NBA during the regular season and they have won every home game in these playoffs so far. The Lakers weren't a great road team this season, they have been playing better over the last few weeks as they were getting really hot coming into the playoffs but they are going to struggle in Denver as the Nuggets have a big home advantage with the altitude. The Nuggets are also going to be rested an extra day for this game and they know how the Lakers have come out strong in every game 1 of these playoffs so far. The Nuggets will come out just as strong to prevent the Lakers from stealing the home advantage as they have been doing in their previous series and the Nuggets will put out a strong effort all night to win game 1 on their home court. The best way to place a bet here is on the Nuggets to cover the spread in this game.

Lakers Nuggets Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Tuesday, May 16, 2023 (8:30 pm ET start time) is Nuggets 121 Lakers 110.

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Los Angeles Lakers: 5-13 ATS in a road game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 18-26 ATS after one or more consecutive overs. 29-17 OVER in road games. 29-16 OVER in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 220. 

Denver Nuggets: 29-17 ATS in home games. 29-17 ATS in a home game where the total is greater than or equal to 220. 42-23 OVER in a home game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 17-9 OVER in all playoff games.

Los Angeles Lakers:  M. Bamba (C) Ques Tues - Ankle.

Denver Nuggets:  C. Gillespie (PG) Late May - Leg.

“It was great to be able to play one of our most efficient games, one of our best games of the series, and it started because of the defensive matchup we had. We defended at a high level, and when we do that, we can be extremely good. I thought we were locked in for as close to 48 minutes as possible tonight.” - LeBron James after their win against the Warriors in their game on Friday which ended the series 4-2, game 6 of that series.

“When we defend, when we rebound, when we run, when we share the ball, we believe we're the best team in the NBA. And tonight, we showed it.” - Michael malone after his team’s win against the Suns in their game on Thursday which ended the series 4-2, game 6 of that series.

PG D'Angelo Russell

SG Austin Reaves

SF LeBron James

PF Jarred Vanderbilt

C Anthony Davis

PG Jamal Murray

SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

SF Michael Porter Jr.

PF Aaron Gordon

C Nikola Jokic

PPG: L. James (28.9)

APG: L. James (6.8)

Reb/G: A. Davis (12.5)

PPG: N. Jokic (24.5)

APG: N. Jokic (9.8)

Reb/G: N. Jokic (11.8)

Coaches:

Los Angeles Lakers: Darvin Ham (1st season)

Denver Nuggets: Michael Malone (8th season)