LA LAKERS @ DENVER (DEN -6.5, 239.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
LAKERS @ NUGGETS 2/22/25
Although their playoff games have been lopsided, the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets have developed a nice rivalry. The Nuggets will attempt to continue their winning streak when they host Los Angeles on Saturday night. Denver has won 13 of the last 14 meetings since January 2023, including the last five during the regular season.
In an attempt to halt their downward trend against Denver, the Lakers have a new weapon. Luka Doncic will probably play his first game against the Nuggets on Saturday night after being traded from Dallas on February 2. Despite missing Thursday night's 110-102 victory at Portland, Doncic has participated in three games since moving to Los Angeles. He is listed as a game-time decision for tonight.
If Doncic plays, this should be a much different game than the first meeting of the season. Denver won the first game on Nov. 23 by a score of 127-102, but the Lakers are a different team now. They have won 13 of 17 games since a home defeat to San Antonio on January 13. The Lakers are now within three games of the Nuggets, who have won nine straight games and are currently the second seed in the Western Conference.
LeBron James is the driving force behind Los Angeles even with Doncic on the team. He became the first player in NBA history to score 40 points or more twice after turning 40 when he scored 40 points in the victory over the Trail Blazers.
At 24.7 points per game, James leads the Lakers, followed by Austin Reaves (19.1). Doncic is scoring 26.5 points per game this season and 14.7 points per game in his three games with Los Angeles. Doncic has strengthened the Los Angeles backcourt, but the Lakers are now exposed in the paint after Anthony Davis was traded to the Mavericks. A trade for Mark Williams didn’t pan out and now the Lakers are hurting for a big man that could defend Nikola Jokic, the best player in the league.
Jokic leads the Nuggets in scoring (29.7 points), rebounds (12.7), and assists (10.2). Christian Braun averages 14.9 points per game, Michael Porter Jr. scores 18.7, and Jamal Murray is second on the Nuggets in scoring at 21.3 points per game.
Following a career-high 55 points against Portland on February 12, Murray's scoring has increased over the past ten games. Since January 29, he has averaged 27.8 points in nine games. Denver is looking for its first 10-game winning streak under coach Michael Malone, in part because of Murray’s impressive play.
With 26 games left, the Nuggets are now close to the top of the Western Conference thanks to their nine-game run.
Get free NBA Picks and NBA Predictions for the top games on the weekly 2025 NBA schedule from JA Cavalier, one of the industry's premier expert NBA handicappers. J.A. Cavalier has been bringing the NBA betting community the best NBA free picks and predictions for nearly three decades. Visit daily for the best NBA moneyline and run line odds and game totals.
COACH RICK FREE PICK:
AUSTIN REAVES OVER 2.5 THREE-POINTERS
Reaves hasn’t hit this number in each of his last three games. He scored 32 points in his last game against Portland, but he only hit two three-pointers. In the six prior games though, Reaves hit 3 or more three-pointers in 5 of the 6 games. In the first game against Denver this season, Reaves hit 3-of-7 from three-point range and had 19 points. Denver allows an average of 39 three-point attempts (and 14 makes) each night. Luka is a game-time decision and even if he plays, Reaves will get his shots. He’s had at least 7 three-point attempts in all but one game in January.