NBA
Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Preview: Odds, Tips and Predictions
Kick Off Time: 10.00 pm, ET Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California SportsBoom previews this NBA rivalry match between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, 19th March 2025. Championship aspirations is the aim for these two franchises, as they continue to build their respective team chemistries with hopes of making a deep playoff run that may yield a NBA title at the end of it all. This fixture will offer box-office superstar talent attraction, and fans are anticipating a blockbuster bonanza as they seek tips to guide their NBA betting experience.
Luka Doncic puts up a shot against Aaron Gordon//Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Denver Nuggets on home turf in their fourth and final meeting of the season looking to claim the seasonal series victory. This game in Hollywood comes four days apart from their last meeting, which will be on 15th March 2025 at the Ball Arena in Denver.
The Denver Nuggets have been consistent for much of the season, despite some of its core personnel suffering significant injuries. They are ranked second on the Western Conference standings with a record of 42-23. They are playing beautiful, selfless basketball with the ever present three-time NBA MVP, Nikola Jokić, leading the way.
On the other end, the Los Angeles Lakers have surprised many fans and pundits with their recent place on the standings. They have quietly gone about their season with uttermost professionalism in spite of the roster changes. Superstar Luka Dončić has comfortably adapted to the team’s play with so much ease, a testament to his basketball IQ. The Lakers are vying for an automatic playoff berth and a possible home court advantage. They are third on the standings with a 40-23 record.
The Nuggets have been the Lakers’ kryptonite in recent seasons and the Lakers are hopeful of a new lease of life, considering that they emphatically won earlier in 2025, in Colorado. With such a highly anticipated matchup on the horizon, many fans will be looking for the best betting sites with welcome bonus offers to make the most of their bets on this thrilling encounter.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
You can find our pre-game betting odds on leading online sports betting sites.
Los Angeles Lakers: 9/4 (3.25) – 30.8%
Denver Nuggets: 2/5 (1.40) – 71.4%
Forecast Odds – Betting available on 1Win closer to event.
Head-to-Head Record
The Nuggets have been utterly dominant, winning four of their duels against the Lakers and losing only one in the last five matches.
LAST FIVE MATCHES
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/2025 | February 22nd 2025 | Denver Nuggets 100-123 Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2024/2025 | November 23rd 2024 | Los Angeles Lakers 102-127 Denver Nuggets |
| 2023/2024 | March 2nd 2024 | Los Angeles Lakers 114-124 Denver Nuggets |
| 2023/2024 | February 8th 2024 | Los Angeles Lakers 106-114 Denver Nuggets |
| 2023/2024 | October 24th 2024 | Denver Nuggets 119-107 Los Angeles Lakers |
Los Angeles Lakers: Current Form - LLWWW
- Overall Record: 40-23
- Home Record: 25-7
- Away Record 15-16
The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the best teams since undertaking the Luka trade. They have been chaotic and dominant at the same time. They have been surprisingly dominant on defense after being anticipated to struggle massively after trading away their elite All-NBA two-way superstar Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.
Although they are undersized in the post, the Lakers have mitigated this by boasting perhaps the lengthiest perimeter players in the league. The Lakers’ starting unit composes of player 6’6 and above. The playmaking and basketball IQ of the Lakers is unlike anything ever witnessed in the league.
Head Coach JJ Redick has been having a field day after pairing the otherworldly superstar duo of Luka Dončić and LeBron James along with a solid supporting cast. Injuries have begun assaulting the team and their momentum has cooled off with the latest groin injury to LeBron a cause of concern for the purple and yellow.
The Nuggets have been dominating the Lakers in recent seasons, but this seems to have changed with the Lakers finally claiming a deserved win in Denver with their zonal marking and switching posing lots of problems for the Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic//Getty Images
Key Players to Watch
- Luka Dončić: Luka Dončić is the future of the Lakers; he seems to have settled smoothly, so expect some Luka Magic on the floor. He will be the first option for the team, a remarkable honor, considering that he will be playing alongside, arguably, the greatest player in the history of the NBA, LeBron James.
- Austin Reaves: Austin Reaves has adapted remarkably after returning to his natural shooting guard position, with the arrival of Luka in the starting lineup. The “White Mamba” will be guaranteed to get more open looks, while playing alongside two of the best three playmakers in the league.
- Jarred Vanderbilt: Jarred Vanderbilt is a defensive menace and one of the best on-ball players in the NBA. ‘Vando’ is a pest and the defensive anchor for the team whenever he is on the floor. He will be required to produce one of his defensive masterclasses if the Lakers are to claim victory against the Nuggets.
Los Angeles Lakers Team News
LeBron James is expected to miss at least 1-to-2 weeks due to a groin strain while Rui Hachimura will miss this game after been diagnosed with left patellar tendinopathy. Maxi Kleber will have his surgically repaired right foot re-evaluated.
Denver Nuggets: Current Form – WLWWL
- Overall Record: 42-23
- Home Record: 22-9
- Away Record 20-14
The Denver Nuggets will face the Lakers twice in a span of four days. They will be out for vengeance after the Lakers mopped the floor with them in their last contest in Denver. They have the best basketball player in their ranks, Nikola Jokić, who has been playing the best basketball of his career as stats can attest.
Head coach Michael Malone has finally caught a break, with key players returning from various injuries and he will be hopeful to count on his entire squad once the playoffs commence. Jamal Murray is slowly getting back to his best, while Michael Porter Jr. seems to have shrugged off recent struggles that saw his name a constant on the trade rumor mill before the trade deadline.
Russell Westbrook has provided the spark off the bench with his production, lessening the burden on Jokić’s shoulders. The bench will have to develop elite chemistry if they are to challenge fellow NBA title contenders such as the Boston Celtics, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Key Players to Watch
- Nikola Jokić: Nikola Jokić is the best player in the NBA. This season, he has been super dominant, often fueling the Nuggets wins. He is leading the team with 28.9 points per game, 13.0 rebounds, 10.5 assist and 1.8 steals and is on route to averaging a triple double for the entire season.
- Jamal Murray: Jamal Murray has been doing amazing things as Nikola Jokić’s sidekick. He has managed to fine-tune his fitness issues and has been the team’s second leading scorer with 21.5 points per game. He usually turns up against the Lakers so expect some fireworks from him.
- Russell Westbrook: Russell Westbrook has finally found his mojo after being written off as a locker room cancer. Despite is waning athletic abilities, Westbrook has curved a niche as the team’s emotional leader and glue. He is the primary ball handler for the second unit and has greatly improved his three-point percentage, an Achilles heel for most of his NBA career.
Denver Nuggets Team News
The Denver Nuggets have a clean bill of health for this meeting, with their only concern being Aaron Gordon’s calf discomfort.
Predicted Lineups
Los Angeles Lakers Lineup
- Point Guard: Luka Dončić
- Shooting Guard: Austin Reaves
- Small Forward: Dorian Finney-Smith
- Power Forward: Jarred Vanderbilt
- Center: Jaxson Hayes
Denver Nuggets Lineup
- Point Guard: Jamal Murray
- Shooting Guard: Christian Braun
- Small Forward: Michael Porter Jr.
- Power Forward: Aaron Gordon
- Center: Nikola Jokic
Value Bets
Nikola Jokic: To Score Over 25.5 points and 12.5 Rebounds: Jokic has a versatile offensive game that makes shooting a piece of cake. For him, shooting over 26 points is an easy achievement and recording double-doubles is a norm since he is an elite rebounder, making this prediction achievable.
Luka Doncic: To Score Over 30 points and 5.5 Assists: Luka is a master of doubles and he has achieved more than 30 points and over 15 rebounds in seven games. Although he will be countering an equally highly skilled opponent, Jokic, his skills and abilities match the Serbian’s dominance. Therefore, making this prediction a reality is not an out of world feat for Luka.
Prediction: Denver Nuggets to Win
The Nuggets are favoured to win this game due to the current team dynamics of the Lakers, who are presently dealing with injuries on their key players, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. With a clean bill of health, the Nuggets are expected to unleash their offensive prowess in fullness, pushing the Lakers to a less dominant position.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.
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