The Lakers standings in the league could not be worse. They are one of four teams who are winless, and the other three teams, it would have been easy to see.
Yet here the Lakers are with the greatest player of all time, LeBron James, and an all-NBA post-threat in Anthony Davis, sitting 0-3.
They can turn the tide when Los Angeles heads to face the Denver Nuggets at 10 p.m. ET Wednesday at Ball Arena. It certainly hasn’t been the best of starts for the Nuggets, either.
They lost to the Utah Jazz on opening night before winning a pair and most recently losing by 25 to the unbeaten Portland Trail Blazers.
It is still early on in the season, barely a week old, and teams are still feeling one another out, but NBA teams have been unpredictable from the opening tip-off.
Lakers vs. Nuggets Odds Breakdown
Nuggets odds today show the line at Denver -6 with an over/under of 227.5 points. The moneyline sits at Nuggets -240 and Lakers +190, which has moved from +211.
Early Lakers vs Nuggets picks show that 74% of public bets are on the Nuggets against the spread, while 54% are on the over.
Matchup Information
- Date and Time: Oct 26, 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Venue: Ball Arena
- How to Watch: ESPN
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
NBA matchups history shows the Lakers have won 111 contests to the Nuggets winning 74 in 185 regular season games played between the two.
Fortunately for Denver, this isn’t a playoff game when the Lakers have won 25 of the 33 postseason meetings.
The two sides have split the last six regular season games, both straight up and against the spread. The over is 4-2 in those contests.
A broader context shows the over is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings in Denver, where the Lakers are 1-3-1 against the spread across the last five games in the Mile High City.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have not so quietly had a very bad start to the season. Their 0-3 start includes three losses against the spread, too. Granted, only in one game were they favored (by four) in a two-point loss to the Trail Blazers. The under is also 2-1.
NBA Injury Report
An aging roster – James is 37, an injury-prone Davis is only 29, and Russell Westbrook is 33 – is already getting lengthy on the NBA injury report.
Westbrook is doubtful with a hamstring injury, while Davis (back) and James (foot) are both probable. They are also without Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schroder until November at the earliest.
Lakers’ Offense Struggle
Still, that doesn’t account for their offensive issues. One would assume defensive struggles, but it’s been the opposite.
The Lakers are averaging 103.3 points per game, the second-worst rate in the league. They are also league-worst in efficiency at 40.7% from the field and 21.2% from the 3-point range.
The rebounding doesn’t get better as they are 25th, pulling in 42 rebounds per game, while their opponents grab 52.7 per contest, league-worst defensively. Of course, that can be remedied with better shot-making.
Lakers’ Defense
Defensively, though, the Lakers have had a bright spot. They are 14th, holding teams to 110.7 points per game.
Opponents hit 45.2% of shots, ranking 10th defensively. They are league average (16th) at 34.7% 3-point percentage against.
Denver Nuggets
It’s already been a roller-coaster season for the Nuggets. If Lakers vs Nuggets picks are up to the imagination, the Nuggets haven’t helped matters with their weird start with a quality win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors following a loss to the rebuilding Jazz.
They have been the most efficient offense in the league so far. They are tops in field goal conversion, doing so at a 50.1% rate.
They are second in 3-point percentage at 41.6%. Meanwhile, their 115.5 points per game ranks 14th. Their issues could be the remedy the Lakers need offensively.
The Nuggets allow 124.5 points per game, a league-worst rate, and opponents convert 50% of field goal attempts, also the worst in the league. The 40% from 3-point range opponents convert sixth worst.
The rebounding, though, is decent. Denver is fourth worst at pulling in 40 rebounds per game but only permits 42.5 per contest, ranking eighth.
Michael Porter Jr. Injury
Michael Porter Jr. is questionable with a back injury. Jamal Murray still hasn’t found his rhythm after sitting out last year due to a knee injury.
He’s converting 37.8% of attempts and 33.3% of 3-pointers while averaging 12.0 points per game with eight turnovers, though none last time out.
Lakers vs. Nuggets Betting Pick and Prediction
It’s remarkable how a failed experiment has gone for LeBron and the Lakers. He’s won everywhere he’s been, and a big part of that has been spreading the floor with shooters to allow for driving lanes, whether in isolation or with ball screens.
Davis should be a solid defender and play nicely when healthy, with James on offense. The other element hasn’t developed offensively.
Wednesday’s meeting should favor the Nuggets, who are 1-3 against the spread this season and 3-1 on over/under.
Who to Bet On?
This is a game where their season records could regress to the mean a tad, at least for one of the teams. They both haven’t lived up to expectations.
Murray should have an opening against the Lakers’ backcourt to get in a rhythm, and similarly, the Lakers should be able to do the same against the Nuggets’ horrific defense.
We’re expecting plenty of points between the two playoff hopefuls, so our Lakers vs Nuggets picks are to bet over 227.5 and take Nuggets -2.5.
NBA Pick: Nuggets -2.5 (-110)
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