The No. 2 seed Denver Nuggets are hosting the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Lakers in a pivotal Game 5 matchup in the 2024 NBA playoffs on Monday. After falling down 0-3, the Lakers picked up a massive win in Game 4 when Los Angeles edged out Denver 119-108, snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Nuggets. Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) is questionable for Los Angeles, while Jamal Murray (calf) is questionable for Denver.
Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at Ball Arena in Denver. The Nuggets are 6.5-point favorites in the latest Lakers vs. Nuggets odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 217. Before making any Nuggets vs. Lakers picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
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-plus seasons. The model enters the third week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 91-62 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Nuggets and just locked in its picks and Game 5 predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Nuggets vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Nuggets spread: Denver -6.5
- Lakers vs. Nuggets over/under: 217 points
- Lakers vs. Nuggets money line: Denver -254, Los Angeles +206
- DEN: The Nuggets are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games
- LAL: The Lakers are 2-7 ATS in their past nine games against the Nuggets
- Lakers vs. Nuggets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nuggets can cover
Forward Aaron Gordon is an athletic playmaker who's great at cutting to the rim and finishing around the rim. The Arizona product rebounds well and plays superb defense against forwards. He's averaging 15.5 points, nine rebounds, and 4.3 assists in the 2024 NBA playoffs. In Game 3, he had 29 points and 15 rebounds.
Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope provides Denver with another two-way force. Caldwell-Pope has the athleticism to move well out on the perimeter as a defender and uses his sweet jumper to space the floor. In this series, he's averaging 9.3 points, two assists, and 2.3 steals per game. On April 27, Caldwell-Pope finished with 14 points and four steals. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Lakers can cover
Forward LeBron James can take over a game in a flash. James is a freight train when driving into the paint with the top-tier vision to get his teammates good looks at the rim. The 20-time All-Star leads the team in assists (8.2) and steals (2) to go along with 27.3 points per game in the 2024 NBA playoffs. In Game 4, James stuffed the stat sheet with 30 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Forward Anthony Davis has great instincts and awareness on the floor. Davis thrives as a shot-blocker and rebounder but has a diverse offensive game. The former Kentucky product also plays elite defense. Davis enters Monday's matchup leading the team in points (30.5), rebounds (15.8), and blocks (1.5) thus far in the postseason. In Game 4, he finished with 25 points, 23 rebounds, and six assists. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Nuggets vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 220 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.
So who wins Lakers vs. Nuggets, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Nuggets vs. Lakers spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 91-62 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
