Lakers vs. Nuggets prediction, odds, line, time: 2023 NBA picks, Opening Night best bets from proven model
Fresh off winning their first-ever NBA Championship, the Denver Nuggets will look to start the new season on a high note when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. The Nuggets (53-29 in 2022-2023), who have made the postseason in each of the past five seasons, defeated the Miami Heat in five games to win last year's title. The Lakers (43-39), who placed seventh in the Western Conference a year ago, were swept in the conference finals by Denver. The teams split four games during the regular season, with the home team winning each time.
Tip-off from Ball Arena in Denver is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Los Angeles leads the all-time regular-season series 113-76. Denver is a 5-point favorite in the latest Lakers vs. Nuggets odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 228.5. Before making any Nuggets vs. Lakers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five seasons. The model finished the 2022-23 NBA season on a 72-39 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $2,800. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Nuggets, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Nuggets vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Nuggets spread: Nuggets -5
- Lakers vs. Nuggets over/under: 228.5 points
- Lakers vs. Nuggets money line: Lakers +178, Nuggets -216
- LAL: The Lakers have hit the money line in 50 of their last 87 games (+18.85 units)
- DEN: The Nuggets have hit the fourth quarter total Under in 67 of their last 98 games (+32.01 units)
- Lakers vs. Nuggets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nuggets can cover
Denver is led by eighth-year center Nikola Jokic. In 69 games played last season, he averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He has registered 105 career triple-doubles, including one during the regular season. Jokic had three triple-doubles against the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals this past May. He had two triple-doubles and averaged 30.2 points per game during the NBA Finals.
Also helping power the offense is point guard Jamal Murray. The seventh-year veteran played in 65 games last season and averaged 20 points, 6.2 assists, four rebounds and one steal per game. He posted one triple-double and three double-doubles in the five-game series win over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. In a pivotal Game 3 win at Miami, which allowed the Nuggets to regain home-court advantage, he scored 34 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Lakers can cover
Despite that, Denver isn't a lock to cover the Lakers vs. Nuggets spread. That's because Los Angeles is led by 20-year veteran LeBron James. The 6-9 small forward started 54 of 55 games in which he played in in 2022-2023, averaging 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists. He was a dominant force in the Western Conference Finals series against the Nuggets, scoring no fewer than 22 points in a game, and registering four double-doubles. In the Game 4 loss, he narrowly missed a triple-double by pouring in 40 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out nine assists.
Power forward Anthony Davis is also a force for Los Angeles. In 56 games played, including 54 starts, he averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals. He also posted four double-doubles in the Western Conference Finals against Denver. In Game 1, he scored 40 points and had 10 rebounds. In three regular-season games vs. the Nuggets a year ago, Davis averaged 18.3 points and 11 rebounds. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Nuggets vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 232 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can see the model's picks at SportsLine.
