Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Betting Pick & Prediction 3/14/25
The Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they take on the Denver Nuggets at 9:30 ET. The Nuggets are favored by 14 points and have a record of 42-24, which is good for 3rd in the Western Conference. The Lakers are 4th in the West at 40-24.
This game will be played at Ball Arena in Denver and can be seen on NBA TV. The over/under line for this matchup is 232 points.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS DENVER NUGGETS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Denver Nuggets -14
This game will be played at Ball Arena at 9:30 ET on Friday, March 14th.
WHY BET THE DENVER NUGGETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 124-94 in favor of the Nuggets.
- Our projections have Nikola Jokić finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
- From the field, we have the Nuggets finishing with a field goal percentage of 50.5% and knocking down 12 threes.
Will the Lakers Defense Show Up in Denver?
The Lakers fell to 40-24 on the season after a 126-106 road loss to the Bucks on Thursday. Los Angeles entered the game as +6 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 232 points went over the pre-game line of 226.5.
A 10-0 run helped the Lakers extend their lead from 50-40 to 60-40, but the Bucks took control by outscoring them 31-19 in the 3rd quarter. The teams played to a 24-24 tie in the 4th quarter after Milwaukee entered the final period with a 102-82 lead.
In the Lakers’ 126-106 loss to the Bucks, Luka Dončić led the way with 45 points, hitting 7 threes at a 53.8% clip. He also added 11 rebounds and 3 assists. Austin Reaves contributed 28 points, connecting on 4 threes at 57.1% shooting.
The Lakers made 15 threes as a team, shooting 37.5% from deep, but their overall field goal percentage was just 43.7%. Dončić scored 16 points in the 1st quarter and 13 more in the 2nd, while Reaves added 11 points in the 2nd quarter.
The Lakers struggled defensively against the Bucks, allowing 126 points in the loss. Los Angeles gave up 33 points in the 1st quarter and 38 in the 2nd, leading to a 71-point first half for Milwaukee. The Lakers allowed 31 points in the 3rd quarter but tightened up in the 4th, giving up 24 points.
Milwaukee shot 47% from the field, including 42% from three-point range, with 17 made threes. The Bucks also went to the free-throw line 33 times, making 27. The Lakers finished with 33 defensive rebounds, allowed 7 offensive boards, and recorded 3 steals and 4 blocks.
Will Denver Win at Home?
The Nuggets fell to 42-24 on the season after a 115-95 home loss to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Denver, favored by 1.5 points, didn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total of 210 points fell short of the 233-point O/U line.
Denver made a push with a 10-0 run, narrowing the score from 43-31 to 43-41, but couldn’t sustain the momentum. Minnesota outscored them in each quarter, including a 26-20 edge in the 4th.
In their 115-95 loss to the Timberwolves, the Nuggets struggled offensively, shooting just 40.4% from the field and hitting only 7 threes at a 23.3% clip. Nikola Jokić led the way with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 56.5% from the floor and making 2 threes at 33.3%.
Russell Westbrook added 19 points on 66.7% shooting, while Jamal Murray contributed 12 points despite shooting just 26.7%. Jokić scored 15 points in the 1st quarter, while Westbrook added 13 in the 2nd. Murray had 11 of his 12 points in the 3rd quarter.
Defensively, the Nuggets struggled in the 1st and 3rd quarters, allowing 34 and 32 points, respectively, in their 115-95 loss to the Timberwolves. They tightened up in the 2nd, giving up just 23 points, and allowed 26 in the 4th. Overall, Denver allowed Minnesota to shoot 47% from the field.
The Nuggets had trouble defending the three, as the Timberwolves hit 17 threes at a 42% clip. Denver sent Minnesota to the line 16 times, where they made 12 free throws. The Nuggets gave up 12 offensive rebounds while recording 9 steals and 4 blocks.