LA LAKERS @ DENVER (DEN -13.5, 231.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
LAKERS @ NUGGETS 3/14/25
Get ready for NBA action this Friday, March 14th, as the power-packed Western conference sees Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Denver Nuggets at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. This season, we've already witnessed the teams clashing twice, both of them proving their mettle in away games. In their first meeting in November, the Nuggets pulled off an incredible 127-102 victory, only to see the Lakers come back stronger in February with a 123-100 win.
But, Denver Nuggets' recent form has been a mixed bag, posting a 5-5 SU and 3-7 ATS record in their last ten games. They had mixed fortunes in their most recent three games, grasping a 140-127 win against Oklahoma City Thunder but also bearing the brunt of losses against the Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.
After a heavy beating by Minnesota on Wednesday, the Nuggets will be seeking redemption. Despite suffering an offensive letdown with a mere 40.4% shooting, Nikola Jokic shone brightly with a 34-point performance. However, injury concerns remain for Aaron Gordon, who is currently nursing a calf injury, and Julian Strawther, who is ruled out due to a knee problem.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers are recuperating from a surprising double setback, their 111-101 loss against Boston Celtics and a 111-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers embarked on a four-game road trip last Saturday, aiming to recover their winning rhythm after putting an end to their impressive eight-game streak.
Several key players, including LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes, are nursing injuries, which may affect their performance. Despite this adversity, the Lakers are holding strong, being ranked fourth in the Western Conference as of Thursday morning. Their offensive (115.2 points per 100 possessions) and defensive efficiency (113.5 points per 100 possessions) numbers place them 12th and 13th respectively in the league.
The Lakers are 14-5 SU and 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games. They haven’t had much success against Denver recently. LA is just 2-13 SU in the last 15 against the Nuggets. The Lakers are also just 4-8 ATS in the last 12 against Denver.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
LAKERS OVER 107.5
LA has some injury issues and has now lost three straight after having won 8 in a row. LeBron James is out again tonight, but the Lakers should hit this team total. They have hit it in 4 of their last 6 games and 14 of their last 19. Yes, they were healthy, but Luka and company will have to keep up with Denver’s pace. The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in possessions per game and they are the No. 3-ranked scoring team. These two have played twice this season. In the most recent game, also played in Denver, the Lakers scored 123 points.