Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Betting Pick & Prediction 2/22/25
At 8:30 ET, the Nuggets will host the Lakers at Ball Arena in Denver. The Nuggets are currently favored by 7 points and have won 9 straight games. The over/under line for the game is set at 240.5.
This Western Conference matchup can be seen on ABC. The Lakers are 5th in the Western Conference with a record of 33-21, while the Nuggets are 3rd in the West at 37-19.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS DENVER NUGGETS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Los Angeles Lakers +7
This game will be played at Ball Arena at 8:30 ET on Saturday, February 22nd.
WHY BET THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 125-120 in favor of the Lakers.
- Our projections have LeBron James finishing with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists.
- From the field, we have the Lakers finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.9% and knocking down 15 threes.
Do the Lakers Have What it Takes to Win as Road Underdogs?
The Lakers improved to 33-21 on the season with a 110-102 win over the Trail Blazers on Thursday. Los Angeles, favored by 2.5 points, covered the spread with the victory. The combined score of 212 points fell short of the 225-point over/under line.
Los Angeles went on a 10-0 run early in the game, taking the score from 9-8 to 18-9. After a strong 1st quarter, they led 28-15. The Blazers fought back, outscoring the Lakers in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but the Lakers edged ahead 78-77 going into the 4th. Los Angeles closed out the game by outscoring Portland 32-25 in the final quarter.
LeBron James led the Lakers to a win over the Trail Blazers, scoring 40 points and hitting 4 threes at 50% efficiency. He also added 8 rebounds and 4 assists, shooting 58.3% from the field. Austin Reaves contributed 32 points and 7 assists, despite shooting 42.9% overall and 25% from beyond the arc.
The Lakers shot 47.6% from the field and struggled from three, hitting just 9 threes at a 28.1% rate. James scored 12 points in each of the final three quarters, while Reaves added 11 points in the 4th.
The Lakers’ defense shined in the 1st quarter, holding the Trail Blazers to just 15 points, and they stepped up again in the 4th, allowing 25 points to secure the win. Overall, they gave up 102 points on 44% shooting from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Lakers limited Portland to 12 threes on 32% shooting. They also sent the Blazers to the line 21 times, where they made 14 free throws. Defensively, the Lakers grabbed 37 rebounds, gave up 6 offensive boards, and added 7 steals and 6 blocks.
Can the Nuggets Pull Off a Home Win?
The Nuggets improved to 37-19 this season with a 129-115 win over the Hornets on Thursday. Denver was favored by 18 points but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 244.5 went over the line of 227.5.
Denver went on a key 10-0 run, extending their lead from 44-42 to 54-42. After a 38-30 first quarter, both teams scored 28 in the second, and the Hornets edged Denver 38-33 in the third. The Nuggets clamped down in the fourth, holding Charlotte to 19 points while scoring 30.
Jamal Murray’s 34 points, including 7 threes at a 70% clip, led the Nuggets to a 129-115 win over the Hornets. Nikola Jokić added 29 points and 17 rebounds, hitting 6 threes, while Aaron Gordon contributed 18 points. Denver connected on 19 threes, shooting 44.2% from beyond the arc and 50% overall from the field.
Murray scored 13 points in the 1st quarter, while Jokić added 14 of his own. Julian Strawther chipped in 16 points, with 8 coming in the 2nd quarter and another 6 in the 4th.
Defensively, the Nuggets gave up 115 points to the Hornets but managed to hold them to 19 points in the 4th quarter, sealing the win. They allowed 38 points in the 3rd but limited the damage in the 2nd quarter, giving up 28. Overall, Denver held Charlotte to 43% shooting from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Hornets hit 15 threes at a 40% clip. Denver sent Charlotte to the line 17 times, where they made 14 free throws. The Nuggets grabbed 39 defensive rebounds, allowing 14 offensive boards, while also recording 3 steals and 3 blocks.