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Game 4 – Nuggets vs. Lakers Picks, Predictions, Odds

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
3 minute read

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The NBA Playoffs resume on Monday night with Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. Coverage begins from Crypto.com Arena in L. A. at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The total has gone UNDER in 13 of the last 20 matchups between the Lakers and Nuggets. (Getty)

DENVER NUGGETS vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING PREDICTION

Denver appeared to find a little bit of fool’s gold in the first half of the most recent meeting between these teams, as the Nuggets went to halftime of Game 3 leading L. A. by a slim margin of 58-55, despite Jamal Murray erupting for 30 points on 13-of-20 from the field in the opening two stanzas, while the rest of his teammates scored just 28 points on 37% shooting.

And to a certain extent, it actually was fool’s gold, as Murray scored just seven points on 2-of-9 from the floor in the second half of Saturday’s contest. 

Fortunately, though, his teammates returned from the halftime break eager to carry the baton through the finish line, as Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Bruce Brown combined for 51 points on 58% shooting in the final two stanzas, which was more than enough to escape with a victory, as well as a 3-0 series lead.

For a brief moment, it seemed like L. A. was destined to come from behind to and win Game 3 to make this a competitive series, as the Lakers came all the way back from 14 points down and then carried a 94-93 lead to the 7:48 mark in the fourth quarter. 

However, LeBron James and co. unravelled down the stretch yet again, as the Lakers scored just 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting in the final 7:30 of the contest, and quite frankly, that wasn’t even the primary cause of their collapse, considering they also surrendered 35 points on 60% from the field and 46% from long-range to Denver in fourth, which ultimately, was the lead contributor to them losing Game 3.

The pride and joy of this Lakers’ team is usually defense, and that’s remained true in these playoffs, currently ranked 3rd in defensive rating since the start of the postseason; but at times when they don’t have their A-Game in that department, it can quickly become an ugly sight, which is exactly what we saw in the most recent meeting between these teams.

On a broader scale, though, the Lakers continue to be hampered by their inability to shoot the longball, and now that they’re teetering on the brink of elimination trailing three games to none, it’s tough to imagine L. A. getting back in this series without an incredible stretch of performances from beyond the arc; and I simply don’t have faith in them stringing together a run of that nature.

That said, my gut tells me that the Lakers probably avoid the sweep on Monday night, but the better part of my brain also knows that L. A. is way overpriced in this spot already trailing 3-0. If the Lakers bounce back with a win here, it’s most likely going to be a rock fight. Take the ‘under’ in Game 4.

Score Prediction: Lakers 109, Nuggets 104
Best Bet: Under 224.5 (-110)

DEN @ LAL Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+4 -110 +2.5 -110 +2 -105 +2.5 -110 +1.5 +108 N/A +3.5 -110  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-4 -110 -2.5 -110 -2 -115 -2.5 -110 -1.5 -132 N/A -3.5 -111  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
o221.5 -110 o114.5 -115 o114.5 -110 o115 -110 o114.5 -118 N/A o225.5 -112  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
u221.5 -110 u114.5 -105 u114.5 -110 u115 -110 u114.5 -104 N/A u225.5 -109  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+140 +140 +135 +140 +122 N/A +134  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-166 -165 -155 -165 -148 N/A -161  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+4 -110 +1.5 -110 +1.5 -115 +1.5 -115 +0.5 +106 N/A +3.5 -110  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-4 -110 -1.5 -110 -1.5 -105 -1.5 -115 -0.5 -130 N/A -3.5 -111  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
o221.5 -110 o57.5 -115 o57.5 -110 o57.5 -115 o57.5 -113 N/A o225.5 -112  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
u221.5 -110 u57.5 -105 u57.5 -110 u57.5 -115 u57.5 -113 N/A u225.5 -109  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+140 +125 +120 +120 +118 N/A +134  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-166 -160 -140 -150 -144 N/A -161  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+4 -110 N/A +1 -110 +1.5 -125 +0.5 -108 N/A +3.5 -110  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-4 -110 N/A -1 -110 -1.5 -105 -0.5 -114 N/A -3.5 -111  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
o221.5 -110 N/A o57.5 -105 o57.5 -115 o57.5 -113 N/A o225.5 -112  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
u221.5 -110 N/A u57.5 -115 u57.5 -115 u57.5 -113 N/A u225.5 -109  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+140 N/A +115 N/A +104 N/A +134  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-166 N/A -135 N/A -128 N/A -161  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+4 -110 N/A +0.5 -115 +1.5 -140 +0.5 -105 N/A +3.5 -110  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-4 -110 N/A -0.5 -105 -1.5 +110 -0.5 -115 N/A -3.5 -111  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
o221.5 -110 N/A o55.5 -110 N/A o55.5 -111 N/A o225.5 -112  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
u221.5 -110 N/A u55.5 -110 N/A u55.5 -115 N/A u225.5 -109  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+140 N/A -105 N/A +106 N/A +134  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-166 N/A -115 N/A -130 N/A -161  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+4 -110 N/A +0.5 -120 +1.5 -145 +0.5 -114 N/A +3.5 -110  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-4 -110 N/A -0.5 even -1.5 +115 -0.5 -106 N/A -3.5 -111  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
o221.5 -110 N/A o54.5 -115 N/A o54.5 -122 N/A o225.5 -112  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
u221.5 -110 N/A u54.5 -105 N/A u54.5 -104 N/A u225.5 -109  
Final
Denver Nuggets 543 Nuggets
+140 N/A -105 N/A -102 N/A +134  
Los Angeles Lakers 544 Lakers
-166 N/A -115 N/A -120 N/A -161  

DENVER NUGGETS vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Monday, May 22, 2023
Venue: Crypto.com Arena
Location: Los Angeles, California
TV-Time: ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
Matchup
Expert Picks

NBA Finals Betting Odds

DENVER NUGGETS vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING STATS

Denver Nuggets
SU: 64-32
ATS: 53-43
O/U: 46-50
PPG: 115.8
OPPG: 112.5

Los Angeles Lakers
SU: 52-46
ATS: 50-46-1
O/U: 51-45-1
PPG: 117.2
OPPG: 116.6

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS), Over-Under (O/U)
Points Per Game (PPG), Opponents Points Per Game (OPPG)

The Nuggets are 2-8 SU in their last ten road games against the Lakers. (Getty)

DENVER NUGGETS vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING TRENDS

  • The Nuggets are 5-0 SU in their last five games.
  • The Nuggets are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games against the Lakers.
  • The Lakers are 1-4 SU in their last five games.
  • The Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games.
  • The Nuggets are 7-3 SU in their last ten matchups against the Lakers.
  • The Nuggets are 3-7 SU in their last ten road games.
  • The Nuggets are 2-8 SU in their last ten road games against the Lakers.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 13 of the last 20 matchups between the Lakers and Nuggets.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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