Denver Nuggets (37-19) vs Los Angeles Lakers (33-21)
Game Info: Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 8:30 pm (Ball Arena)
Betting Odds: Denver Nuggets -7 -- Over/Under: 241.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: ABC
The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Denver Nuggets on February 22, 2025, at Ball Arena in Denver. The Lakers come into this game with a 33-21 record, sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets are 37-19, holding the second spot. The Lakers recently snapped a two-game losing streak with a 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, powered by a 40-point performance from LeBron James.
The Nuggets are on an impressive nine-game winning streak, with their most recent win being a 129-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Jamal Murray led the team with 34 points in that game, while Nikola Jokic continues to put up dominant numbers, including a 29-point, 17-rebound, and 9-assist effort against the Hornets. The Lakers will likely have Luka Doncic back in the lineup after he missed the previous game with a calf strain, and his presence alongside LeBron James will be key to their offense.
Lebron James Over 7.5 Assists
LeBron James has played 50 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024-25 NBA season. He is averaging 24.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 51.6%. James' assist average of 8.9 per game ranks 4th in the league, marking the third-highest assist average of his career. In a recent game on February 20, 2025, James scored 40 points, along with 8 rebounds and 4 assists, in a 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
LeBron seems to not be slowing down anytime soon with some of these performances he's having. I expect him to be in more of a facilitator role on Saturday night against the Nuggets. The Nuggets are giving up 29.3 assists per game to opposing teams which is the most in the league.
Nikola Jokic Over 11.5 Rebounds
Nikola Jokić has played 50 games for the Denver Nuggets in the 2024-25 NBA season, where he is averaging 12.7 rebounds per game, ranking 4th in the league. He has accumulated a total of 635 rebounds, with 147 offensive rebounds and 470 defensive rebounds. Jokić also averages 3.0 offensive rebounds per game and 9.6 defensive rebounds per game. His ability to dominate the boards has been a key factor in the Nuggets' success this season.
Nikola Jokic is coming off a game where he secured 17 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets and the game before that he had 15 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers. He has been a monster on the boards as of late. Now he faces this Lakers team that is still figuring out their situation when it comes to a big man after trading away Anthony Davis. In what should be a close and competitive game I expect Jokic to have another solid night on the glass.
Jamal Murray Over 20.5 Points
Jamal Murray has played 50 games for the Denver Nuggets in the 2024-25 NBA season. He is averaging 21.0 points per game, ranking 34th in the league. His field goal percentage stands at 47.1%, placing him 65th among NBA players.
In the game before the All-Star break, Jamal Murray put up 55 points against the Portland Trail Blazers and in his first game back from All-Star break he had 34 points against the Charlotte Hornets. Jamal Murray is playing like he plays when the Nuggets are in the postseason. The fact that his line is still this low is too hard for me to pass up with how he's been playing lately.
Brad’s Pick See Above
AUTHOR: Brad Francis
