NBA Betting: Nuggets vs Lakers Odds & Pick as a Rematch of the Last Season Western Conference Finals

The second game of an NBA on TNT doubleheader Thursday is a rematch of the 2023 Western Conference Finals between the Nuggets and Lakers from LA, and it will have a bit more meaning for the home club as a Kobe Bryant statue ceremony precedes the game and the Lakers will wear special Black Mamba uniforms. 2024 NBA Expert Analysis Denver vs LA Lakers | MyBookie Sportsbook NBA Week 16

How to Bet Nuggets at Lakers NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Thursday, 10 PM ET
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Nuggets -3.5 (total 229.5)

Nuggets vs Lakers Season Series

Of course, the Nuggets beat the Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Finals in a sweep. The teams then opened this season against one another in Denver with the Nuggets raising their title banner and getting their rings. They went out and beat the Lakers 119-107. Denver jumped out to an early 18-point lead, which held up even after the Lakers got within three points in the fourth quarter. “I think we controlled the game the whole time,” said Nikola Jokic, who had 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. LeBron James had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Lakers. The two teams have met 190 times in the regular season, with the Lakers leading the all-time series 113-77.

Why Bet on Denver Nuggets?

The Nuggets have been off since Sunday’s 112-103 win over Portland to sweep a weekend two-game set against the Blazers. Denver trailed by 14 in the first half and didn’t take their first lead until their final shot of the third quarter in the second game.

“I think we should just be a little bit more on point to start the game, not to have to kick it into another gear,” said Jamal Murray. “I think we just got to be a little more conscious, a little more aware of the task at hand each and every night that we’re gonna get their best shot. I think we can give our best shot, as well, from the start.”

Murray had 21 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. He now has a career-high six games this season with 10+ points and 10+ assists and for the first time in his career, Murray has finished with a double-double in back-to-back games. In 14 games in January, Murray is averaging 24.1 points, 6.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 49.0% from the field and 36.5% from three in 34.0 minutes. He’s also scored 25+ points in six games and had 20+ points in all but three games.

Nikola Jokic tallied 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, just shy of a triple-double that he got on Friday. It marked his 32nd game this season with 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists. Last season, Jokic had total of 32 games with those numbers.

Second-year forward Peyton Watson amassed 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting with six rebounds and continues to earn more minutes for Denver with his terrific play on both ends of the court. It was the second time this season Watson has finished consecutive games shooting 75% FG or better. Over his past five games, Watson compiled averages of 10.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right hamstring injury) played 31 minutes and had 11 points. His night ended early as a right hamstring issue forced him to the sideline with a little over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. A potential absence would free up additional minutes for Reggie Jackson and Christian Braun, with Braun as part of the closing lineup after Caldwell-Pope’s departure. KCP thinks he will be fine and having a few days off helps his chances of playing Thursday.

The Nuggets have made 10+ three-pointers in 14 consecutive games, marking the fourth longest streak in franchise history. The only other teams with a longer active streak are Atlanta (27), Boston (16) and the LA Clippers (15).

Why Bet on Los Angeles Lakers?

The Lakers won their third game in a row Monday, 124-118 in Charlotte to complete a long road trip at 4-2. Anthony Davis had 26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. It’s the second triple-double of the season for Davis and the third of his career, with his other one coming during the 2017-18 campaign when he was with New Orleans. The 30-year-old has a double-double or better in nine of his last 10 games, averaging 23.3 points, 12.9 boards, 5.2 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.9 steals over that stretch while shooting 56.7 percent from the floor. His 40 double-doubles on the season put him third in the NBA behind Domantas Sabonis (45) and Nikola Jokic (42).

LeBron James had 26 points, seven assists and four rebounds. While a lingering ankle injury has sidelined him twice in the Lakers’ last eight games, James remains productive when he’s on the court and has scored 20 or more points in 10 straight contests. During that stretch, he is averaging 25.6 points, 7.9 boards and 7.8 assists while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor.

Rumored trade candidate D’Angelo Russell had 28 points, six assists and four rebounds but is in doubt Thursday and not just because he might be traded but Russell underwent an undisclosed treatment Tuesday and didn’t practice Wednesday. Carvin Ham said Russell underwent a “tune-up procedure,” but a team spokesperson later clarified it was a “treatment.” Whatever that means. Interesting timing.

Los Angeles is down another body in forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who missed Monday with a right mid-foot sprain and will be re-evaluated in approximately 3-to-4 weeks. In Vanderbilt’s absence, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Taurean Prince and Christian Wood are candidates for increased minutes. Wood played pretty well Monday with 11 points and six rebounds in just 10 minutes, posting his first double-digit scoring performance since Jan 15. Wood has struggled from beyond the arc this season, connecting on a career-worst 30.8 percent from deep.

If the Lakers make a big move by Thursday’s deadline, it likely will be for Hawks All-Star guard Dejounte Murray but that seems to be cooling down because Russell has been playing well for LA and the Lakers only have one first round pick to trade, but that won’t be the case in the summer. They will be able to trade three draft picks in the offseason, which opens up the possibilities to make a big move and the team reportedly is eyeing Cavs star Donovan Mitchell.

As noted above, the Lakers will unveil a statue of the late Kobe Bryant outside Crypto.com Arena pre-game and then wear their Black Mamba jerseys that Kobe helped design during the game. Bryant will join Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West and Chick Hearn as Lakers with statues outside the arena.

The 2/8/24 date of the unveiling is conspicuous as Kobe wore No. 8 and No. 24 during each half of his Lakers career, while daughter Gianna wore No. 2 while playing youth basketball. The Bryants were flying together to a basketball competition with seven others when their helicopter crashed in fog in the LA area in January 2020.

Nuggets vs Lakers Expert Prediction

Nuggets 110, Lakers 108

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