The struggling Lakers hit the road in hopes of winning their first game of the season as they take on 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets. Continue reading below to see same-game parlay for this match-up.
Tip-off is set for 10 pm ET on ESPN, right after the Brooklyn Nets vs Milwaukee Bucks game finishes. Check out our NBA Predictions page for picks on all 10 games this Wednesday.
Let’s dive in.
Anything other than a blowout win by the Nuggets here would be a surprise for me, after watching the Lakers in their first 3 games of the season. LA is off to their worst start in years and by the looks of it there is no light at the end of the tunnel, unless drastic changes are made. They have been historically bad shooting the ball just 40.7% from the field which ranks dead last in the NBA. Three-point shooting is also a problem, they rank 30th connecting on just 21% of attempts. Playing at home should make all the difference for the Nuggets here, they are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games played on a Wednesday at Ball Arena. The Lakers are in trouble early in the season, until they trade away Westbrook things will not improve. Back the home team to win big.
Be sure to check out our side and total picks for the LA Lakers vs Denver Nuggets game
Jokic posted a very odd stat line for a 2-time MVP with just 9 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists in the 25-point loss at Portland the other day. Following the loss the Nuggets fell to 2-2 on the season, but I’m expecting a bounce back performance tonight against the Lakers who he really likes playing against. In the last regular season game against them he posted 38 points and 18 rebounds in just 33 minutes of play which was his 2nd 30+ point game in the last 3 vs the purple and gold. Denver has been involved in some high scoring games this season, mainly because they like to play an up tempo style which more often than not results in a ton of point scored. I expect more of the same tonight, Jokic is more skilled than Anthony Davis and is capable of hurting the Lakers in a variety of ways and I’m expecting to see that on full display here.
And for a bit of an odds boost I’ve opted to back Aaron Gordon to make at least 1 three pointer in tonight’s game. Although shooting from distance isn’t his strength, Gordon has been making them against the Lakers. In two meetings last season he made 3 threes and in 13 career games against them he has failed to make a three in just 4 of the games played. LA hasn’t really excelled at defending the three-ball so far this season ranking only 16th in the NBA with opponents connecting on 34.7% of shots from distance against them. Gordon’s match-up on the night should be LeBron James, who at this point of his career isn’t really focused all that much on the defensive side of the ball, so hopefully the Denver wing can exploit that a bit. The previous meeting between the Lakers and Nuggets finished 146-141 after OT and the two teams attempted 90 threes combined, if we get even half of those attempts tonight, I’m confident Gordon can connect on at least one shot from distance.
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