Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/18/2023

Game Time: 8:30 pm ET, Thursday, May 18, 2023

Venue:  Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Lakers +5.5, Nuggets -5.5; Over/Under:  227 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Lakers +5.5, Nuggets -5.5; Over/Under:  227.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Lakers +5.5, Nuggets -5.5; Over/Under:  226.5 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:  6-4 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 loss against the Denver Nuggets in their last game. Anthony Davis led the team in points in that game with 40 while LeBron James was next on the team with 26 points. LeBron James led the team in assists in that game with 9 while LeBron James led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 54.8% from the field, 45.8% from 3-point range, and 88.5% 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 49-46-1 this season and their O/U record is 51-45.

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 3 game winning streak with wins coming against the Phoenix Suns twice in a row and the LA Lakers in their last game. Nikola Jokić led the team in points in that game with 34 while Jamal Murray was next on the team with 31 points. Nikola Jokić led the team in assists in that game with 14 while Nikola Jokić led the team in rebounds with 21. They were 54.9% from the field, 46.9% from 3-point range, and 77.3% 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 51-42-1 this season and their O/U record is 45-48-1.

The current betting odds have the Nuggets listed as a 5.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 2 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 with a 1-0 series lead after winning their 1st home game of this series on Tuesday and so far they are undefeated at home in the playoffs this year. The Nuggets are the number 1 seed in the West and also had one of the best home records during the regular season too. The Lakers have been really hot in these playoffs and have been on a roll over the last few weeks, but they showed in game 1 that this is going to be a very difficult series for them in the altitude with their age and they are going to struggle a lot to win a road game and flip the home advantage in this series. They came out flat from the start in game 1 and weren't really able to get anything going until the 2nd half but by then it was too late as they were down big and the fatigue started to hit them late in the game too. The Lakers have no response for Jokic and the Nuggets right now and they will continue to roll here on their home court like they have been doing all playoffs. 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 Thursday, May 18, 2023 (8:30 pm ET start time) is Nuggets 124 Lakers 109.

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Los Angeles Lakers: 6-13 ATS in a road game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 2-9 ATS after allowing 130 points or more. 24-14 OVER as a road underdog. 30-16 OVER in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 220. 

Denver Nuggets: 27-18 ATS as a home favorite. 29-18 ATS in a home game where the total is greater than or equal to 220. 43-23 OVER in a home game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 19-7 OVER after a game out rebounding the opponent by 15 or more.

Los Angeles Lakers:  M. Bamba (C) Out Indefinitely - Ankle.

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

“Yeah, it took us a half to get into the game and that was pretty much the ballgame right there. They punched us in the mouth to start. ... I know the game is won in 48 minutes, but they set the tone in 24 minutes and we were playing catch-up for the next 24.” - LeBron James after their loss against the Nuggets in their game on Tuesday, game 1 of this series.

“I'd rather clean things up after a win in the Western Conference finals than after a loss, so I will take it. But much work to do.” - Michael Malone after his team’s win against the Lakers in their game on Tuesday, game 1 of this 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)