Lakers vs. Nuggets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets For Western Conference Finals Game 3 – Saturday, May 20, 2023

Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets (53-29) will look to upset LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers when the Nuggets play the Lakers on May 20, 2023. The line has the Lakers favored by 5.5 points against the Nuggets. The matchup features a point total of 223.

Lakers vs. Nuggets Odds

• Lakers odds to win: -232
• Nuggets odds to win: +188
• Spread: Lakers (-5.5)
• Total: 223

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Game Time and Information

• When: Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 8:30 PM ET
• Where: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California
• TV: ABC

Who Will Win Lakers vs. Nuggets?

Lakers and Nuggets Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

In games this season they were favored by 5.5 points or more, the Lakers have a 9-4-1 record against the spread.

In games this season in which they were an underdog by 5.5 points or more, the Nuggets have a 6-2 record against the spread.

These two teams average 233 points per game combined, 10 more than the over/under of 223.

Los Angeles and Denver have seen its opponents average a combined 6.1 more points per game than the point total of 223 set for this game.

The average total for Lakers games this year is 10.8 more points than the total of 223 in this game.

The average total for Denver’s games this season is 5.3 more points than the point total of 223 in this outing.

Los Angeles’ ATS record is 40-39-3 this season.

The Nuggets are 44-36-2 against the spread this season.

Lakers Stats & Insights

The Lakers average 117.2 points per game (sixth in the league) while giving up 116.6 per contest (20th in the NBA). They have a +47 scoring differential overall.

The Lakers are sixth in the NBA at 45.7 rebounds per game. That’s similar to the 44.9 their opponents average.

Los Angeles connects on 1.7 fewer threes per contest than the opposition, 10.8 (24th in the league) compared to its opponents’ 12.5.

The Lakers rank 19th in the NBA with 111.8 points scored per 100 possessions, and 14th in the league defensively with 111.5 points conceded per 100 possessions.

During the 2022-23 campaign, the Lakers score 0.3 fewer points per home game on average than on the road (117 at home, 117.3 on the road), and are also conceding 5.6 fewer points per home game compared to road games (113.8 at home, 119.4 on the road).

Nuggets Stats & Insights

The Nuggets outscore opponents by 3.3 points per game (posting 115.8 points per game, 12th in league, and conceding 112.5 per outing, eighth in NBA) and have a +273 scoring differential.

Denver ranks 18th in the NBA at 43 rebounds per game. That’s 2.2 more than the 40.8 its opponents average.

The Nuggets knock down 11.8 three-pointers per game (18th in the league) at a 37.9% rate (fourth-best in NBA), compared to the 11.4 their opponents make, shooting 34.4% from beyond the arc.

The Nuggets rank second in the NBA with 116.3 points scored per 100 possessions, and 19th defensively with 112.9 points conceded per 100 possessions.

Denver is putting up more points at home (119.4 per game) than on the road (112.2).

Lakers Key Players to Watch

James leads active Lakers players in scoring, tallying 28.9 points per game to go with 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists.

D’Angelo Russell contributes with 17.8 points, 6.2 assists and three rebounds a game, and Anthony Davis adds 25.9 points, 2.6 assists and 12.5 rebounds per contest.

Malik Beasley makes more threes per game than any other (active) member of the Lakers, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 2.9 per contest.

Jarred Vanderbilt averages 1.1 steals per game, while Davis has two blocks per contest.

Nuggets Key Players to Watch

Jokic is having a well-balanced season overall, with 24.5 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game, and 9.8 assists per game.

Michael Porter Jr. hits three threes per game.

The Nuggets’ defensive effort gets a boost from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 1.5 steals and Aaron Gordon’s 0.8 blocks per game.

Lakers vs. Nuggets Prediction

• Pick ATS: Nuggets (+ 5.5)
• Pick OU:

  Over (223)
  

• Prediction: –
  Nuggets 116 – Lakers 115

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