Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Same Game Parlay Pick

The Los Angeles Lakers were the first team to host a game after the All-Star Break. They were 13.5-point favorites per the NBA betting odds against the lowly Charlotte Hornets, but they were unable to pull off a victory after LeBron James missed two late three-point attempts. James finished the game with 26 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists, while Luka Doncic almost secured a triple-double of his own with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Unfortunately, Doncic went just 5 of 18 from the floor, allowing Charlotte to escape with a 100-97 victory. Now, the Lakers will look to get back to their winning ways in the Mile High City against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. 

Bet all of the NBA games throughout the season!

Denver dismantled Los Angeles in the lone meeting between these Western Conference contenders so far this season. Nikola Jokic finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds in a 127-102 rout of the Lakers in Los Angeles. James turned the ball over six times, and Austin Reaves was the leading scorer with 19 points.

This is an interesting spot for the Lakers as they are bouncing around the league trying to make up games that were postponed last month by the Los Angeles fires. They will head to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers on Thursday night prior to facing the Nuggets, but then they will have two weeks’ worth of home games before a potential NBA Finals showdown with the Boston Celtics on Saturday, March 8. 

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers SGP

Nikola Jokic has the second-lowest odds to win NBA MVP behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City. Jokic could become one of just a handful of players to finish the regular season with a triple double as he is averaging 29.8 PPG, 12.6 RPG, and 10.2 APG. He is also making an incredible 57.7% of his field goals and 45% of his threes, making him the most dangerous offensive weapon in the NBA. Jokic has been named the league MVP in three of the last four seasons, and a fourth award would put him among the all-time greats.

Jamal Murray will turn 28 the day after the Nuggets host the Lakers, and it’s hard to imagine this is his ninth year in the league. Murray has been a very reliable scorer over his tenure with Denver, and he is averaging 21.0 PPG while making 47.1% of his field goals. He has become more effective with the presence of veteran Russell Westbrook too, as Westbrook can lighten the load when he is on the court.

Denver’s main concerns revolve around depth and frontcourt play. This is a six-man rotation in the playoffs barring something unexpected, and the Nuggets need both Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. to remain healthy. Porter has been surprisingly healthy, playing the third-most games on the roster, but Gordon has already missed significant time.

It might take some time for Luka Doncic and LeBron James to learn how to play together. We’ve only seen Doncic on the floor three times so far, and he has yet to score more than 16 points in a game for the Lakers. Doncic’s perimeter shooting in particular has been subpar, and he has 11 turnovers in his last two games. Opponents seem to be attacking him more on defense too as he no longer has teammates that are good at helping out.

James continues to defy all notions of how NBA players should age. He is averaging 24.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 9.5 APG, and he is making 51.6% of his field goals and 39.5% of his threes. However, James is struggling with turnovers and hasn’t played well on defense either, putting the Lakers in a real conundrum regarding what to do on defense when the playoffs come around in two months.

Denver should be able to cruise to a victory on Saturday night. The Nuggets will be at home, and they will not be playing their third game in four games like their opponents. Jokic could post monster numbers too without Anthony Davis in the paint to slow him down. 

NIKOLA JOKIC OVER POINT TOTAL

DENVER NUGGETS TO COVER THE NUMBER

Bet all of the NBA games throughout the season!