NBA Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 03-06-2019, 22:30 EDT

Spread: Los Angeles Lakers +5.5

Total: +230.5

In this all-Western showdown between two squads sitting in and out of the top-8 of the conference, the second Denver Nuggets are visiting the 10^th Los Angeles Lakers, with both teams coming off multiple defeats and are looking to bounce back tonight.

Nuggets are 42-21 so far in the league and are sitting on the 2^nd place of the Western conference. They have lost their last 3 games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by San Antonio on the road, 103-104. Lakers are 30-34 so far in the league and are tied with Minnesota on the tenth place of the Western conference. They are 1-5 in their last 6 games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by LA Clippers at home, 105-113.

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Denver are led in scoring by by Nikola Jokic with 20.6 ppg. He also leads the team both in rebounding with 10.7 and in assists made with 7.6 per game, while Jamal Murray follows with 18.3 ppg, adding 4.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Gary Harris adds 13.8 ppg. LA are led in scoring by LeBron James with 27 ppg. He also adds 8 assists and leads the team in rebounding with 8.7 per game, while Kyle Kuzma follows with 18.8 ppg, adding 5.6 rebounds per game. Brandon Ingram adds 18.3 ppg and 5.1 rebounds per game.

This will be the third meeting between those two teams so far this season and they are tied 1-1 wins. LA won at home 121-114 and Denver at home as well 117-85. LA are 18-14 at home, while Denver are 15-15 on the road. Both squads have similar offenses with 112.3 and 112.1 ppg, while Denver have a better defense, allowing 107.2 ppg to LA’s 113.9. LA have a better accuracy from the field (47.4% to 46.8%), while Denver have a better accuracy from behind the arc (35.6% to 33.6%). Denver are better all across the board, including rebounding (46.8 to 46.4), assists made (27.6 to 25.3) and they also commit fewer turnovers per game (13.1 to 15.3). Denver are the absolute favorite even on the road and expect them to get away with a win by more than 6 points tonight.

Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction: Denver Nuggets -5.5 (-107)