Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction 3/5/2026 Today’s NBA Picks

The LA Lakers and Denver Nuggets meet Thursday in NBA action at the Ball Arena. Here’s a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets prediction. This article will include a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets pick.

LA Lakers Betting Preview

The LA Lakers beat the Pelicans and the Kings, and they play the Pacers next. The Lakers have won 13 of their last 21 games.

The LA Lakers are averaging 115.5 points on 49.8 percent shooting and allowing 115.9 points on 48.6 percent shooting. Luka Doncic is averaging 32.7 points and 7.8 rebounds, while Austin Reaves is averaging 24.6 points and 5 rebounds. LeBron James is the third double-digit scorer, and Deandre Ayton is grabbing 8.4 rebounds. The LA Lakers are shooting 35.2 percent from beyond the arc and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. The LA Lakers are allowing 36.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 40.8 rebounds per game.

Denver Nuggets Betting Preview

The Denver Nuggets lost to the Timberwolves, beat the Jazz, and play the Knicks next. The Nuggets have lost 3 of their last 5 games.

The Denver Nuggets are averaging 120.3 points on 49.2 percent shooting and allowing 116 points on 46.7 percent shooting. Nikola Jokic is averaging 28.7 points and 12.6 rebounds, while Jamal Murray is averaging 25.3 points and 4.4 rebounds. Aaron Gordon is the third double-digit scorer, and Peyton Watson is grabbing 4.9 rebounds. The Denver Nuggets are shooting 39.2 percent from beyond the arc and 80.5 percent from the free-throw line. The Denver Nuggets are allowing 35 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 43.4 rebounds per game.

Why the Denver Nuggets will win

• The Lakers have lost each of their eight previous Thursday games at Ball Arena.
• The Nuggets have won each of their last five games when playing with a rest advantage against the Lakers.
• The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
• The favorites have covered the spread in each of the Lakers’ last three games.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win

• The Nuggets have lost each of their last three games as favorites following a win.
• The Lakers have won five of their last six games against Western Conference opponents.
• The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in nine of their last 10 games as favorites following a road win.
• The Lakers have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games at Ball Arena against Nuggets teams that held a winning record.

Total Points: Facts

• Each of the Lakers’ last six games as road underdogs against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total points line.
• Seven of the Nuggets’ last eight home games against the Lakers have gone UNDER the total points line.

Denver Nuggets Player Facts

• Tim Hardaway Jr. ranks 7th amongst qualified forwards for three-pointers made per game (2.8) this season.

Los Angeles Lakers Player Facts

• Deandre Ayton is the only player to have made 10+ field goals without a miss in a game this season.
• LeBron James ranks 1st amongst qualified players for fast break points per game (5.7) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Nuggets rank 30th in the league for opponent turnovers per game this season (12.1).
• The Nuggets rank 1st in the league for three-point percentage this season (39.2%).
• The Lakers rank 1st in the league for Q4 win percentage this season (62.3%).
• The Lakers rank 29th in the league for rebounds per game this season (41.0).

Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Injury Report

The Nuggets will be without Peyton Watson, Aaron Gordon, and Spencer Jones. Cameron Johnson is questionable.

Maxi Kleber is questionable for the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction

The Lakers and the points are appealing when you consider they’re nearly fully healthy. The Nuggets also have been hit or miss for much of the season. However, the Nuggets are typically trustworthy at home and they’re starting to get healthier. The injury report is cleaning up and they expect Gordon to return tomorrow. This is also a revenge spot after the Nuggets lost to the Lakers at home in late January. I still don’t trust the Lakers night to night, especially against good teams. I’ll lay the reasonable number with the Nuggets at home.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Denver Nuggets -5.5