Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 3 odds, expert picks: Lakers desperate for win as series shifts to LA

After two tense games in Denver, the 2023 Western Conference finals heads to the city of angels for Games 3 and 4. Both sides have their work cut out for them as the Nuggets lead 2-0 — and on Saturday will look to push the Lakers to the point from which no NBA team has ever returned. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and company, meanwhile, hope to bounce back and eventually send this series back to Ball Arena knotted up.

Here’s the rundown for Game 3.

During the NBA Playoffs, The Athletic’s writers will make their straight-up picks. You’ll find picks, coverage and the latest odds here. Our in-depth NBA coverage is linked below the picks.

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No. 7 Lakers vs. No. 1 Nuggets

8:30 p.m. ET on ABC

What are the odds for the Lakers vs. Nuggets?

Series: Nuggets lead 2-0

Series odds: Nuggets -500, Lakers +375

The Nuggets handled business in their opening games in Denver, grabbing a 2-0 series lead and moving their home playoff record to 8-0 in the process.

Despite leading the Western Conference from late December on and employing a two-time MVP in Nikola Jokić, the scariest part might be that they have fully embraced an underdog identity, headlined by a feisty Michael Malone.

You put that in your pipe, you smoke it, you go up 2-0. It’s so New York it hurts.

In Game 2, Jamal Murray rebounded from a slow start to score 37 points and Jokić amassed a 23-point, 17-rebound, 12 assist triple-double — his league-leading seventh this postseason and 13th of his career. So the Nuggets will have some celebratory puffs on the way to Los Angeles for Game 3.

But the Lakers may require a long drag of a cigarette reflecting on missed opportunities over the past week. From pulling within three points of a 21-point comeback in Game 1, to squandering a double-digit first-half advantage in Game 2, they certainly had opportunities to steal home court advantage in this series.

However, they fell short, and now must hold serve on their own home court to avoid slipping to the precipice of elimination. The Lakers are, as of now, 5.5-point favorites for Game 3 at Crypto.com Arena, where they also have yet to lose this postseason.

As if Malone and Co. needed any extra motivation.