Free NBA Pick: Nuggets vs. Lakers NBA Odds
Looking for Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Nuggets taking on the Lakers on Monday, May 3rd, 2021 at Staples Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Nuggets Lakers matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(43-21) Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (36-28)
Date: Monday, May 3rd
Time: 10:00 PM EST
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
NBA Moneyline Odds: Nuggets -150 | Lakers +130
NBA Betting Odds: Nuggets -3
NBA Betting Total: 219
Monday, May 3rd, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers meet for the third time with tonight’s winner earning the tiebreaker.
Things are getting a little tight for the reigning champions who dropped their third game in a row and sixth of their last seven.
Dallas also lost while the Blazers won to create a 3-way tie between the clubs. Dallas gets the nod over LA despite losing the season series because they lead Southwest Division. LA plays Portland on Friday to determine the tiebreak.
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic seems like a lock to win MVP as his Nuggets just keep rolling along currently on a five-game winning streak and nine of their last 10 games.
The most recent victory came at the expense of the Clippers. The Joker collected his 55th double-double of the season with 30 points, 14 rebounds plus seven assists, and a block.
Sophomore Michael Porter Jr. has eagerly picked up the scoring absence left by Jamal Murray dropping 25 points.
PJ Dozier (16), Facundo Campazzo (19), and Paul Millsap (10) were the other double-figure scorers.
Zeke Nnaji (ankle) is questionable. Will Barton (hamstring strain), Monte Morris (hamstring strain) and Jamal Murray (torn ACL) are all out.
Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James was playing in his second game since missing 20 and didn’t look right for most of the match versus Toronto. He left the court midway through the final frame and didn’t return.
James produced 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in 28 minutes. While Anthony Davis played the entire match several times he reached up to the shoulder that’s bothered him on and off this season.
He scored 12 points on 5 of 16 (0 of 3 from deep) but collected nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and a block.
The other issue is the Lakers’ defense. The Raptors didn’t have Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, or Gary Trent Jr. but still managed to score 121 points. Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry both scored at will. Each registered a double-double and combined for 76 points, 15 rebounds, 15 assists, three steals, two blocks, and twelve 3-pointers.
After this match, LA will play a back-to-back versus the Clippers and Blazers followed by two more tough matches versus the Suns and Knicks. It might be time to hit the panic button in LA!
Dennis Schroder (calf), Marc Gasol (finger) didn’t play Sunday and if LeBron leaving the court is any indication I’d bet he’s out tonight.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Lakers are 7-3 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
- The Nuggets are 5-4-1 ATS in the last 10 head to head meetings
- Over/Under is 8-2 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings.
Free Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA Prediction:
Listen, the Raptors are underrated but they were also on a back-to-back and undermanned, however, they were the sharper team with a more fluid offense and offered periods of lockdown defense.
LA needs LeBron and AD healthy, but the team needs to improve their defense. Sunday, there was no rim protection, drives were rarely altered, and too many shots all over the floor were feebly challenged (or not at all).
They owned the best defense in the NBA for much of the season — that’s what they need to get back to. If they play remotely like they did the last two games the Joker and MPJ are going to have a field day in LA.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Nuggets ATS
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