Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 3/9/2018

Friday, March 9, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Friday, March 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 6.5 point favorites.

The Lakers come into this game with an overall record of 29-35. They are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They currently have a point differential of -1.6 as they are averaging 108.3 points per game while giving up 109.9 per contest. The Nuggets have an overall record of 35-30. They currently are 4th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 108.6 points per game and surrendering 107.8, good for a point differential of 0.8.

Valuable Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 35-29-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 34-29-1 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 29-33-3 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 32-33-0 against the over/under

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

03/05/18 F Brandon Ingram Hip is out indefinitely
03/01/18 G Josh Hart Hand is out indefinitely
02/17/18 F Channing Frye Appendix is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Kyle Kuzma averages 15.3 points per game in 29.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 6 rebounds per game for Los Angeles. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 69%. Brandon Ingram comes into this contest averaging 16.2 points per game while playing 33.8 minutes per night so far this season for the Lakers. He pulls down 5.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is currently at 69%.

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic averages 17.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.5 rebounds per contest and 6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 84%. Gary Harris averages 17.8 points per game while playing 34.9 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 2.7 rebounds per game and has 3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage currently is at 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers allow 109.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 10th and 5th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.1 rebounds a game which ranks 24th, and they give up 23.4 assists per contest which puts them in 18th place in the league. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 18th in the league. Los Angeles averages 108.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 9th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.63 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 14th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 29th in the league. They average 46.3 rebounds per game and 23.9 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 15.9 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nuggets surrender 107.8 points per contest, which ranks them 21st in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 30th and 29th in those defensive statistics. They rank 25th with 24.5 assists allowed per contest, and 1st with 41 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 14th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season. Denver is 8th in the league with 108.6 points per game this year. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 0.85. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 44.2 boards per game and 4th in assists per contest with 24.7. The Nuggets are 7th in turnovers per game with 15.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Lakers are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.2, and their defensive rating of 107.8 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 1st in the league with 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 18th. As a team they are 22nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 20th in the league. Los Angeles is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 5th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the league. The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.5, and their defensive rating of 110.6 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 97 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 6th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 10th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Lakers/Nuggets NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Denver -6.5

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