The second round of the Western Conference finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers is heating up. With game 2 just hours away, the Lakers are looking to even the series after suffering a shock loss in the opening game.
The game will take place in the Ball Arena and will start at 8:30 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast live on ESPN, so don’t forget to tune in and catch all the action from the comfort of your own home.
BetMGM Sportsbook has released its lines for the game, giving the Lakers vs. Nuggets odds. Don’t worry, we’ve analyzed them for you to make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The first game of the seven-game series was a thriller, with the Nuggets holding on for a 132-126 victory. Despite trailing by as many as 21 points at one stage, the Lakers rallied and came within three points of leveling the game.
The key players in the first game were the Nuggets’ C Nikola Jokic and G Jamal Murray and the Lakers’ F Anthony Davis and F LeBron James. Jokic had a triple-double, scoring 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 assists, while Murray added 31 points to the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, Davis led the Lakers’ efforts with 40 points and 10 rebounds, while James fell just short of a triple-double, scoring 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Now, let’s take a look at the Lakers vs. Nuggets odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. The moneyline (ML) odds are currently Lakers +180 and Nuggets -225. This means that you would need to bet $100 to win $180 if you bet on the Lakers, whereas you would need to bet $225 to win $100 if you bet on the Nuggets.
As for the against the spread (ATS) odds, you can currently bet on the Lakers with +5.5 points or the Nuggets with -5.5 points, both at odds of -110. Finally, the over/under (O/U) line is currently set at 226.5 points, with odds of -110 for both the over and the under.
Looking at the current Lakers vs. Nuggets key injuries, Lakers F Anthony Davis and F LeBron James are both expected to play despite minor foot injuries. On the other hand, the Nuggets have no reported injuries on their team.
Our prediction for the game is that the Nuggets will win 127-119 against the Lakers. The Nuggets have a perfect 7-0 record at home during the postseason, while the Lakers have lost three consecutive playoff games on the road and five of their last six.
While Jokic has been unstoppable this postseason, we recommend passing on the moneyline. Instead, we advise you to bet on the Nuggets to cover the spread, as we believe they will win the game by more than 5.5 points.
Finally, we recommend betting on the over for the O/U line of 226.5 points. The over has won in four of the Nuggets’ last five games following a game where their opponent scored 125 or more points. Additionally, the over has won in the Lakers’ last four road games against a team with a home winning percentage of .600 or more.
In summary, the second game of the Western Conference finals is expected to be another thrilling encounter between two talented teams. If you want to bet on the game, we recommend betting on the Nuggets to win, covering the spread, and the over for the O/U line.
So, don’t forget to tune in and catch all the action from the Ball Arena at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
