Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers 5/22/2023 Analysis, Picks and Odds
West Finals – Game 4, DEN leads series 3-0
On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers are set to host the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series in the Western Conference semifinals. Denver currently holds a commanding 3-0 lead in the series following their impressive 119-108 victory over the Lakers on Saturday night. Jamal Murray led the way for Denver with an outstanding 37-point performance, while the team shot 50.0% from the field and once again outrebounded the Lakers by a margin of 45-39. A win for Denver in Monday’s game would result in a series sweep.
Nikola Jokic has been the primary contributor for Denver, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists with averages of 30.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. Meanwhile, Jamal Murray has emerged as the second-leading scorer for the Nuggets, averaging 27.2 points per game. Overall, Denver boasts six players who average double figures in scoring. The team has been impressive offensively, averaging 116.5 points per game on 49.0% shooting from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets enter the game with a season record of 53-29. The team commits an average of 14.5 turnovers and 18.6 fouls per game. On the boards, Denver collects an average of 43.0 rebounds per game and has recorded 2,368 assists throughout the season, ranking second in the league in passing. They have shot 37.9% from the three-point range (969 of 2,559) and 75.1% from the free-throw line. Denver’s offense averages 115.8 points per game, ranking 12th in the league, while maintaining an impressive 50.4% shooting accuracy from the field.
Defensively, the Nuggets force their opponents into an average of 13.5 turnovers and 19.5 fouls per game. They allow a three-point shooting percentage of 34.4% and currently rank 8th in the NBA in points per game allowed, giving up 112.5 points on average. Denver’s opponents have a field goal percentage of 47.8% (3,423 of 7,166) and grab 40.8 rebounds per game. Regarding assists allowed, the Nuggets rank 16th in the league, conceding 2,105 assists throughout the season.
- Denver is 5-1 SU in their last six games against an opponent in the Western Conference.
- The Nuggets are 13-4 ATS in their previous 17 games with an opponent in the Pacific Division.
- The Denver Nuggets are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games when playing as the underdog.
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers 5/22/2023 Analysis, Picks and Odds
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a do-or-die situation, with their backs against the wall and a sense of urgency to keep their NBA Finals hopes alive. They must win all four remaining series games to advance, starting with Game 4 on Monday. Despite Anthony Davis leading the team in scoring with 28 points on Saturday, the Lakers struggled, shooting only 45.2%. Los Angeles also committed 12 turnovers compared to Denver’s six.
LeBron James leads the Lakers in scoring and assists, averaging 23.2 points and 5.7 assists per game. Anthony Davis follows closely as the second-leading scorer and leading rebounder, averaging 22.9 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. Los Angeles boasts five players who contribute double figures in scoring, and as a team, they average 112.7 points per game. The Lakers shot 47.3% from the field overall and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
The Lakers hold a season record of 43-39. They commit an average of 17.9 personal fouls per game and have a free-throw shooting percentage of 77.5%. In terms of passing, they assist their teammates 25.3 times per game, ranking 15th in the NBA, but they also turn the ball over 14.1 times per contest. Los Angeles has scored 9,608 points this season, averaging 117.2 points per game, and collects an average of 45.7 rebounds. Offensively, the Lakers connect on 48.2% of their field goal attempts, placing them 10th in the league.
- The total went OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers’ last 7 games against an opponent in the Northwest Division.
- The total hung OVER in 6 of the Los Angeles Lakers last nine games played in May.
- The Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games when playing as the favorite.
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA pick for this game is the Denver Nuggets. With a commanding 3-0 advantage in the series, the Denver Nuggets are on the brink of completing a sweep as they face off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. Denver has showcased their superiority by covering the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games against opponents with winning records. A key factor in Denver’s success has been the outstanding performance of Jamal Murray. In Saturday’s triumph, Murray had an exceptional game, scoring an impressive 37 points, leaving the Lakers struggling to contain his offensive prowess. Despite Nikola Jokic facing foul trouble and not performing at his usual dominant level, Denver still emerged victorious against the Lakers.
As the series concludes, Denver enters the game with confidence and the opportunity to secure a sweep. Meanwhile, the Lakers face a daunting task as they try to find a way to halt Murray’s relentless play and regain control of the series. Given the circumstances, the projected final score leans in favor of Denver at 118-114, suggesting they are well-positioned to complete the sweep and advance to the next round of the playoffs.
NBA Starting Time: 8:30 PM ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena, CA
Date: Monday, May 22, 2023
TV: ESPN
NBA Odds: Denver Nuggets +3.0
NBA Totals: 224.5
