by Nikola Jokic is one of the NBA’s best rebounders, and the Lakers cough up more boards than any other team in the league to open the season. Even with Los Angeles tightening on the glass, an elite player like the Nuggets’ star can clear his rebound prop.
It wasn’t the best start for either of these suspected Western Conference contenders, but things may change early when the Los Angeles Lakers travel to Denver tonight to face the Nuggets.
The Lakers are yet to find a win early this NBA season with three losses to other Western Conference playoff contenders. The Nuggets started the season with a terrible loss to the Utah Jazz but followed that up with an impressive win over the Golden State Warriors and are now 2-2. Will the Lakers finally make it to the Victory Column?
Find out in our free NBA betting tips and predictions for Lakers vs. Nuggets on Wednesday October 26th.
Lakers vs Nuggets best odds
Lakers vs Nuggets tips and predictions
It’s a small sample size, but this is a real test of good offense vs. poor defense and vice versa. The Nuggets allow more points per game than any other team in the NBA, with 124.5 in four contests. However, the Lakers only average 103.3 points per game, which ranks 29th in the league.
On the other hand, the Nuggets average 115.5 points per game, which is 14th in the NBA, and the Lakers only allow 110.7 points per contest, also 14th in the league. Something has to give way here and it will probably be the glass.
The Lakers are allowing more rebounds per game than any other team in the NBA this season, at a whopping 52.7. Meanwhile, they face one of the league’s best rebounders, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who has averaged 10.3 boards so far this season.
Jokic collects over 25% of the Nuggets’ rebounds and has performed well throughout his career on the boards against the Lakers. He has averaged 10.8 rebounds per game in his 20 career games against the Lakers and lost 12 and 18 in his two games against Los Angeles last season.
The Lakers have also allowed the best rebounder of each team they faced to dominate the glass. The Warriors don’t have a great rebounder, but James Wiseman had seven rebounds in just 17 minutes off the bench. Clippers center Ivica Zubac had 17 and Trail Blazers forward Josh Hart had 16.
Jokic will have no problem rebounding, especially against a Lakers offense who is struggling to get the ball in the basket. The association’s worst shooting team will give the MVP plenty of chances to eliminate that NBA Props rebound total of 12.5, and I’m confident he’ll make the most of those chances.
my best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 rebounds (-104)
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Lakers vs. Nuggets Spread Analysis
Not only are the Lakers 3-0 ahead this season, but they’re also 3-0 against the spread. However, the Nuggets weren’t great ATS themselves, being 1-3 at the start of the season.
The worst thing for the Nuggets is that they’re not considered favorites just yet. The only game they won as favorites was by just five points, but they were favored by nine points. The NBA odds have the Nuggets as six-point favorites tonight.
However, Denver covered both of last season’s matchups in which Jokic played against the Lakers. They were similar favorites in each of those games. This is the first matchup between these two teams that Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Jokic have all played in the same game since February 14, 2021. The Nuggets won that game by 17 points as a 3-point underdog.
While I’m adamant that Jokic will own the boards, I also expect the Lakers defense to largely prevail, particularly with more minutes from Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook on the shelf. I wouldn’t necessarily base it on the Lakers’ moneyline, but the spread feels safe and worth going over four points.
Lakers vs. Nuggets Over/Under Analysis
This is the highest total of the season for a Lakers game, which is understandable given the Nuggets’ style of play. Denver’s lowest total of the season against the Jazz, however, hit the under. If the Lakers play their style of play, that amount will go down, too.
The history of this matchup favors the over as it has been 28-10-2 for the last 40 meetings. However, this differs from what is typical for the Lakers. They are much more defensively oriented and have a fighting offense.
Beverley is put in charge of the outside defense by the likes of Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Murray is struggling to regain shooting contact after his lengthy injury layoff as he shoots just 37.8% from the field. He’s unlikely to get it back in this matchup, so give me the under.
Lakers vs. Nuggets betting trend you should know
The Nuggets are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 home games. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Nuggets.
Information about the Lakers vs. Nuggets game
| Location: | Ball Arena, Denver, CO |
| Date: | Wednesday 26 October 2022 |
| Tip: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
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