Los Angeles Lakers: Betting prediction vs. Denver Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets in the team’s seventh seeding game.

There are only two more seeding games for the Los Angeles Lakers until the NBA Playoffs begin and they will be against one tough team and one easier team — the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings.

The Lakers “host” the Nuggets on Monday at 6:00 p.m. PDT and are looking to (hopefully) right the ship. While these games technically do not mean anything, the Lakers have not looked great in the seeding games thus far and it would be nice to see a bit more fire (and better shooting!) in this game.

The Nuggets have three more seeding games remaining and are 3-2 in the bubble thus far. Like the Lakers, the Nuggets have been cautious in their playing time as the biggest concern is staying healthy for the NBA Playoffs.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets betting prediction:

According to The Action Network, the Los Angeles Lakers enter this contest as five-point favorites over the Denver Nuggets. Only 32 percent of public bets are going towards the Lakers -5, with 68 percent of people instead picking the underdogs against the spread.

The Lakers are 36-32-1 against the spread this season while Denver is 32-34-4 against the spread.

The total for this game is set at 221 points. 66 percent of public bettors are betting the over, so the consensus seems to be that the Denver Nuggets will win in a decently high-scoring game.

Betting prediction: Denver +5, Under 221

You might think that I think the Los Angeles Lakers are going to lose this game based on my prediction, but that is not the case. In fact, I posted an article predicting the outcome of the final two seeding games on Sunday and predicted the Lakers to win this game 105-100.

This was before the spread was even announced and I hit it right on the head. Either bet would obviously be a push if that was the final scoreline, so my rule of thumb, in that case, is to bet the underdog in case they hit that last-second free throw or shot that does not matter. Doesn’t hurt to give yourself the points.

The Lakers are going to win this game because of one main reason: Anthony Davis. Although he has looked timid in four of the six games, he has looked really good in the Lakers’ two wins in the bubble and that will continue against Denver.

The Lakers are coming up against a legitimate playoff team in the Nuggets and are going to play with something to prove, which is the only time that Davis has played good in Orlando. Just like he did against Rudy Gobert, Davis is going to go right at Nikola Jokic and prove that he is the better big man.

I think the rest of the Lakers still have their shooting struggles but do fine enough to squeak out just over 100 points for the win. Not only do I have the under hitting in this game, I have the under hitting by 16 points (I am going to look really silly if the over hits).

What do you think? What are you taking in tonight’s showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets? Let me know in the comments down below.