Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction 3/14/25 NBA Picks

Denver Nuggets Betting Preview 

The Denver Nuggets beat the Thunder, lost to the Timberwolves, and they play the Wizards, Warriors, and Trail Blazers next. The Nuggets have won 14 of their last 19 games and are fighting for the second seed in the West. 

The Denver Nuggets are averaging 121.2 points on 50.7 percent shooting and allowing 116.5 points on 46.5 percent shooting. Nikola Jokic is averaging 28.9 points and 12.9 rebounds, while Jamal Murray is averaging 21.4 points and 3.8 rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. is the third double-digit scorer and Christian Braun is grabbing 5.1 rebounds. The Denver Nuggets are shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc and 77.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Denver Nuggets are allowing 36.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 45.9 rebounds per game.

Why the Denver Nuggets will win

• The home team has won each of the Lakers' last nine games.
• The Lakers have lost 12 of their last 13 road games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Nuggets.
• The Nuggets have covered the spread in each of their last seven night games following a home loss.
• The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four road games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win

• The Lakers have won eight of their last 10 games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
• The Nuggets have lost three of their last four games as home favorites after losing as favorites.
• The Lakers have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
• The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games as favorites against Pacific Division opponents following a loss.

LA Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Injury Report 

The Nuggets will be without DaRon Holmes II and Julian Strawther. Aaron Gordon is questionable with an ankle injury.

The LA Lakers will be without Maxi Kleber, Jaxson Hayes, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura.

LA Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction

I understand the Lakers are having a rough week and Denver is the worst place for a back-to-back given the altitude. The Lakers are also banged up. On paper, the Nuggets should win this game comfortably. However, the Nuggets have failed to cover seven of their last 10 games and just aren’t as consistent in spots like this as they’ve been in years past. The Nuggets are 4-4 ATS in their last eight games as a double-digit favorite and one of those failed covers was an outright loss to the Wizards. This line feels like an overreaction just a bit. I’ll take a stab with the Lakers and the boatload of points on Friday night.