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The competition for the Western Conference second seed is crowded. The Nuggets, Lakers, Grizzlies, and Rockets all are battling for this spot in this last full month of the regular season, the (56-12) Thunder have already locked in the first seed in the West. Crypto.com Arena is the backdrop for this Western Conference rivalry tonight at 8 pm MST. The Denver Nuggets’ series against the Los Angeles Lakers sways heavily in their favor. Since 2023, the Lakers have only mustered up two wins in 16 meetings against the 2023 Champions, thus still allowing the Nuggets the self-proclaimed title, “Laker’s Daddy”.
The Lakers have changed their identity this season with the addition of head coach JJ Redick and the powerful trade of Luka Dončić to the front line. The years of the Nuggets sweeping the Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Finals or eliminating them in five games of the first round in 2024 might be limited with these new additions. Lakers’s B squad showed they compete by only losing by five points without Luka or LeBron on the floor on March 14th. Plus you can’t bat an eye at Austin Reaves who has stepped up this year having the best season of his career averaging 30.8 points, 7 assists, and 6.8 rebounds. In just the last four games he’s scored over 25.5 points covering at -105 odds.
Lakers will come into this match up starving for a victory against their toughest rival, and won’t let up on both ends of the court. Four starters for the Nuggets have been nursing injuries these past few weeks. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, and Aaron Gordon are listed as game-time decisions going into this game. On the Lakers’ end, Luka Dončić also probable to be available after recently putting up 21 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds on the Spurs.
It’s going to be a sixth straight game absence from LeBron James as he recovers from a left groin injury. His injury has opened up an opportunity for rookie Dalton Knecht to throw up 32 points on the Nuggets last match up and hit the over on combined points+rebounds eight out of nine times. The Nuggets went from being +2.0 underdogs into -2.0 favorites. Denver has been shaky in the last seven games losing where they should win, and dominating where they are questioned. This poses a challenge for the Nuggets to improve on perimeter defense and grab rebounds as often as possible. I expect a big game from both teams, look below at the best player prop bets to pick from in today’s prop market from both franchises-
Nuggets Props
Michael Porter Jr. over 7.5 rebounds (-110 on Bet365)
With the majority of starters playing through injury I think this allows MPJ, a healthy body to step up and claim the rim this game. He is averaging 7+ rebounds a game. Against the Lakers on February 22nd, he had eight rebounds, he fell to 4 rebounds this last matchup in the series but redeemed himself with double-digit boards recorded in the past two matchups. Not so much of a long shot if we get more than just a ‘Porter Quarter’ this game.
Aaron Gordon over 15.5 points (-115 on Bet365)
Probably the most underrated piece to both the Nuggets offense and defense. Gordon has been very aggressive and sharp in both his shooting and team-leading abilities. He put up a season-high 38 points on the Warriors in the Bay with a fully healthy Jimmy Bulter and Stephen Curry. His shooting on the arc averaged out to 66.7% going 4/6 on attempts, plus 60.9 FG% for 14/23 attempts. Granted Jokic and Murray sat out but with them all in the mix he still averaged 20.5 points against the Lakers in two of the most recent meetings.
Lakers Props
Luka Dončić Over 9.5 rebounds (+100 on Bet365)
In the last 5 games, Luka Dončić hit the over on rebounds in four games. Against the Nuggets alone he averages 10 rebounds and with Lebron out this opens him up to more opportunities to get under the rim and
Austin Reaves Over 25.5 points (-105 on Bet365)
As mentioned before he is having the best season of his career thus far. He looked hungry for redemption in his post-game interview after the last loss to the Nuggets in Denver. Averaging over 30.8 points and hitting the over in the last four games serves him to continue in this trend.
Written By- Taylor Sadusky @royaltayjds
