Denver Nuggets (9-6) at Los Angeles Lakers (8-6), 10:30 pm Eastern Thursday, TNT
by Zman of Predictem.com
A couple of teams experiencing a bit of turbulence recently go at it when the Denver Nuggets visit the Los Angeles Lakers for a Thursday night TNT game.
NBA betting boards have L.A. listed as a five-point home favorite for this game, with a total of 217. Also, the Lakers are posted at anywhere from -165 to -240 on some Vegas moneylines, with the Nuggets getting from +145 to +200 as road underdogs.
Both of these teams have lost three of their last four games. In their most recent outings, Denver lost at home to Indiana 112-110 while Los Angeles beat Seattle 106-99, both on Tuesday.
So both teams, at the moment, sit in second place in their respective divisions, the Nuggets a game and a half back of Northwest-leading Utah, and the Lakers 2 back of Pacific-leading Phoenix.
Denver is 7-8 against the spread this season, 3-4 straight up and 2-5 ATS on the road.
L.A. is 8-6 vs. the numbers this season, and 5-3 both SU and ATS at home.
Also, the Nuggets are 0-2 both straight up and against the spread this season when getting five points or more, while the Lakers are 3-1 SU and 2-2 vs. the numbers when giving five or more.
Last season, Denver beat Los Angeles three out of four meetings, and outrebounded the Lakers in all four games. Also, the o/u went 2-2 while those four games averaged 217 total points, which just happens to match exactly tonight’s o/u.
This season, the Nuggets are shooting 45% from the field, 34% from 3-point
land and 75% from the free-throw line. Also, Denver is holding opponents
to 44% FG shooting but ranks 26th in rebounding at -3.2 boards per game.
Meanwhile, L.A. is shooting 47% from the floor, 35% from long range and 78% from the line. Also, the Lakers are limiting foes to 43% FG shooting, and rank 4th in the league in rebounding at +3.3 per game.
The Sagarin PREDICTOR ratings at USAToday.com ranks the Nuggets 8th at 93.3, Los Angeles 7th at 94.1.
On the injury front, C Kwame Brown remains out for L.A., while Denver F Kenyon Martin, who missed Tuesday’s game with a bad knee, is listed as questionable.
The o/u is 7-8 in Nuggets games this season, which are averaging 206 points per, while the totals are 7-7 in Lakers games, which are also averaging 206 points.
Zman’s Pick: This game doesn’t thrill me in any regard, however if forced to make a section I’d take the over in a game that should see very little defense.