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Lakers vs Nuggets Game 1 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
3 minute read

The 2024 NBA Playoffs begin with a jam packed 4-game slate this Saturday -- and the final matchup of the evening we'll preview is Lakers vs Nuggets Game 1, which is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

The Lakers are 7-point underdogs on the spread in Saturday's contest, while the total is set at over/under 223.5 total points at DraftKings.

Here's everything you need to know about Lakers vs Nuggets -- the latest betting odds, as well as our expert picks and prediction for the NBA Playoffs on Saturday, April 20.

Lakers vs Nuggets Odds

LAL @ DEN Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+7.5 -110 +3.5 -110 +3.5 -104 N/A +3.5 -115 +5.5 -120 +3.5 -113 +6.5 -108  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-7.5 -110 -3.5 -110 -3.5 -118 N/A -3.5 -105 -5.5 -110 -3.5 -113 -6.5 -112  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
o220.5 -110 o117 -110 o117 -106 N/A o116 -115 o117.5 -115 o116.5 -121 o227 -110  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
u220.5 -110 u117 -110 u117 -114 N/A u116 -105 u117.5 -115 u116.5 -108 u227 -110  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+245 N/A +172 +165 +154 N/A +170 +220  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-300 N/A -215 -200 -185 N/A -220 -270  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+7.5 -110 +6 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A +3.5 -120 +6.5 -108  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-7.5 -110 -6 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A -3.5 -109 -6.5 -112  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
o220.5 -110 o109.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A o109.5 -115 o227 -110  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
u220.5 -110 u109.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A u109.5 -115 u227 -110  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+245 N/A +144 N/A N/A N/A +148 +220  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-300 N/A -178 N/A N/A N/A -195 -270  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+7.5 -110 +2 -105 +2.5 -120 N/A +1.5 -110 +2.5 -105 +1.5 -104 +6.5 -108  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-7.5 -110 -2 -115 -2.5 -102 N/A -1.5 -110 -2.5 -125 -1.5 -124 -6.5 -112  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
o220.5 -110 o58.5 -110 o58.5 -111 N/A o58.5 -110 o58.5 -120 o58.5 -106 o227 -110  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
u220.5 -110 u58.5 -110 u58.5 -115 N/A u58.5 -110 u58.5 -110 u58.5 -122 u227 -110  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+245 N/A +144 +140 +136 N/A +143 +220  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-300 N/A -178 -175 -162 N/A -182 -270  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+7.5 -110 +1.5 -110 +1.5 -104 N/A +1.5 -105 +1.5 -110 +1.5 -107 +6.5 -108  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-7.5 -110 -1.5 -120 -1.5 -118 N/A -1.5 -115 -1.5 -115 -1.5 -122 -6.5 -112  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
o220.5 -110 o58 -110 o58.5 -111 N/A o58.5 -105 o58.5 -110 o58.5 -117 o227 -110  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
u220.5 -110 u58 -120 u58.5 -115 N/A u58.5 -115 u58.5 -115 u58.5 -114 u227 -110  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+245 N/A +134 N/A +136 N/A +133 +220  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-300 N/A -164 N/A -162 N/A -175 -270  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+7.5 -110 +2 -120 +1.5 -105 N/A +2 -115 +1.5 -105 +2.5 -122 +6.5 -108  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-7.5 -110 -2 -110 -1.5 -115 N/A -2 -105 -1.5 -120 -2.5 -107 -6.5 -112  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
o220.5 -110 o55 -115 o54.5 -125 N/A o55.5 -108 o55.5 -110 o54.5 -118 o227 -110  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
u220.5 -110 u55 -115 u54.5 -102 N/A u55.5 -112 u55.5 -120 u54.5 -113 u227 -110  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+245 N/A +134 N/A +130 N/A +143 +220  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-300 N/A -164 N/A -155 N/A -186 -270  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+7.5 -110 +1 -115 +0.5 -102 N/A +1 -108 +0.5 -105 +1.5 -122 +6.5 -108  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-7.5 -110 -1 -115 -0.5 -120 N/A -1 -112 -0.5 -120 -1.5 -107 -6.5 -112  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
o220.5 -110 o54 -115 o54.5 -111 N/A o54.5 -112 o54.5 -110 o54.5 -122 o227 -110  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
u220.5 -110 u54 -115 u54.5 -115 N/A u54.5 -108 u54.5 -120 u54.5 -109 u227 -110  
Final
Los Angeles Lakers 575 Lakers
+245 N/A +112 N/A +114 N/A +115 +220  
Denver Nuggets 576 Nuggets
-300 N/A -138 N/A -135 N/A -148 -270  

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Lakers vs Nuggets Picks & Prediction

The Lakers are thoroughly outmatched against the defending champs in this first round series, and it would take a total implosion by the Nuggets for LAL to advance to the Western Conference Semis. 

With that in mind, however, I believe this series may extend a little bit further than the previous postseason meeting between these teams in which the Nuggets swept the Lakers in four games in last year’s Western Conference Finals.

The Nuggets are no strangers to mental lapses early in the playoffs. As dominant as their run through the WCF and Finals was – winning both series in a total of nine games – Denver actually struggled a little bit out of the gate last postseason.

The Nuggets lost one game to Minnesota in the opening round last year, and barely escaped with a victory in Game 5 with a final score of 112-109. Then they lost two road games to Phoenix in the second round before catching fire and winning 10-of-11 games the rest of the way to win the title.

None of those losses came at home though, as the Nuggets posted a perfect record of 6-0 at Ball Arena in the first two rounds of last year’s playoffs, with five of those six wins coming by a margin of 9+ points.

The Lakers and Nuggets met three times during the regular season, and Denver won all three of those contests by a margin of 8+ points, with two of those victories coming on the road, where Denver is known to struggle – yielding records of 33-8 at home and 24-17 away this season, and then 34-7 at home and 19-22 away last season.

In last year’s Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets won all four games, but only one of those wins would have covered the spread set for this contest (Game 3 – 119-108).

Once this series transitions to Los Angeles, I may consider taking the points with the Lakers depending on how they look in the first two matchups in Denver. However, I don’t want to overthink it in Game 1. 

The Nuggets are the best team in the West, and they dominate their home floor. The number on the spread is big – maybe a little bit too big – but the Lakers need to prove they know how to beat Denver (when healthy) before I consider picking them in any of these matchups. The Lakers have lost seven straight matchups against Denver, and four of those losses have been pretty ugly. 

I’m going to lay the steep number with Denver in Game 1.

Pick: Nuggets -7 (-110)

Click this link for the latest betting trends and market movements leading up to the NBA Finals!

Lakers vs Nuggets Game Time & TV Channel

Date: Saturday, April 20
Matchup: Pacific vs Northwest
Venue: Ball Arena
Location: Denver, CO
Time-TV: ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

Lakers vs Nuggets Betting Stats

2) Denver Nuggets
(2nd Place, Northwest)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +300
  • Odds to Win Conference: +135
  • SU: 57-25
  • ATS: 39-43
  • O/U: 35-47
  • PPG: 114.9
  • OPPG: 109.6

7) Los Angeles Lakers
(3rd Place, Pacific)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +2900
  • Odds to Win Conference: +1400
  • SU: 49-33
  • ATS: 44-38
  • O/U: 36-45-1
  • PPG: 118.0
  • OPPG: 117.4

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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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