Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions March 14th 2025

Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers March 14th 2025

At 9:30 ET, the Los Angeles Lakers (40-24) will take on the Denver Nuggets (42-24) in a Western Conference matchup. The Nuggets are currently favored by 14 points and have a moneyline of -842. The over/under line for the game is 232.

This game will be played at Ball Arena in Denver and can be seen on NBA TV. The Lakers are currently on a three-game losing streak and are the underdogs with a moneyline of +574. They are 4th in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets are 3rd.

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Lakers vs. Nuggets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets
• Where: Denver at Ball Arena
• Date: Friday, March 14th
• Betting Odds DEN -14, LAL +574 | DEN -842 O/U 232

The Lakers Can Win If…

The Lakers fell to 40-24 on the season after a 126-106 road loss to the Bucks on Thursday. Los Angeles entered the game as +6 point underdogs but couldn’t cover the spread, losing by 20. The total points for the game reached 232, exceeding the pre-game O/U line of 226.5 by 5.5 points.

Milwaukee took control with a 31-19 3rd quarter, extending their lead to 102-82 heading into the 4th. The teams played evenly in the final period, each scoring 24 points.

In the Lakers’ 126-106 loss to the Bucks, Luka Dončić led the way with 45 points, hitting 7 threes at a 53.8% clip. Austin Reaves added 28 points, connecting on 4 threes at 57.1% shooting from deep.

The Lakers made 15 threes as a team, shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc, but struggled overall, hitting just 43.7% of their field goals. Dončić scored 16 points in the 1st quarter and 13 in the 2nd, while Reaves added 11 points in the 2nd quarter.

The Lakers struggled defensively on Thursday, giving up 126 points to the Bucks. They allowed 33 points in the 1st quarter and 38 in the 2nd, before tightening up slightly in the 4th, where they allowed 24 points. Overall, Milwaukee shot 47% from the field.

The Bucks hit 17 threes at a 42% clip, and the Lakers sent them to the line 33 times, where they made 27 free throws. Los Angeles finished with 33 defensive rebounds, allowing 7 offensive boards, and recorded 3 steals and 4 blocks.

• When looking at their past three road matchups, Los Angeles has an ATS record of 0-3 while averaging 105 per game. The team went 0-3 overall in these games.
• Going back to their last ten games as the underdog, the Lakers have a straight up record of 6-4. But, their mark vs the spread was just 7-3.
• Over their last three games, the Lakers have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.

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The Nuggets Can Win If…

Denver’s season record fell to 42-24 after a 115-95 home loss to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Nuggets were -1.5 point favorites but failed to cover the spread, losing by 20 points. The game’s total points were 210, well below the O/U line of 233.

Denver went on a 10-0 run, cutting the score from 43-31 to 43-41, but couldn’t sustain the momentum. They were outscored 23-22 in the 2nd quarter and 32-27 in the 3rd. Heading into the 4th quarter down 89-75, the Nuggets were outscored 26-20 in the final period.

In their 115-95 loss to the Timberwolves, the Nuggets struggled offensively, shooting just 40.4% from the field and hitting only 7 threes at a 23.3% clip. Nikola Jokić led the way with 34 points, including 15 in the 1st quarter, while Russell Westbrook added 19 points, 13 of which came in the 2nd quarter.

Jamal Murray contributed 12 points, with 11 coming in the 3rd quarter, despite shooting just 26.7% from the floor. Jokić also added 8 rebounds and 4 assists, connecting on 56.5% of his shots and making 2 threes at 33.3%.

Defensively, the Nuggets had a solid 2nd quarter, giving up just 23 points, but they allowed 34 points in the 1st and 32 in the 3rd, leading to a 115-95 loss to the Timberwolves. Denver sent Minnesota to the free-throw line 16 times, where they made 12.

From beyond the arc, the Timberwolves hit 17 threes at a 42% clip. The Nuggets finished with 30 defensive rebounds, allowing 12 offensive boards, while also recording 9 steals and 4 blocks.

• Across the Nuggets last three home games, the team averaged 115 points per game while allowing 121. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-2, while going 1-2 straight-up.
• Although the Nuggets have a strong straight up record in their last three games as the betting favorite, they have not done as well vs the spread going 0-3.
• In their last five games, the Nuggets have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 0-5 vs. the spread.

The Lean

The Nuggets is our pick to not only win with a projected score of 124-94. But we also favor them to cover the spread. Our bet is on the Nuggets at -14.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 232 and given that our model is projecting 218 points between the teams, we like the under.

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Luka Doncic, Undermanned Lakers Have Tall Task vs. Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers have been in a tailspin since LeBron James went down with a groin strain, losing three straight games. They’ll look to stop the slide and close out their four-game road trip on a high note when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

Lakers Struggling Without LeBron

Los Angeles surged into the second seed in the Western Conference behind an eight-game winning streak, but James’ absence has derailed their momentum. He has missed the last two games and will remain out at least through Friday.

The Lakers are also without Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy) and Jaxson Hayes (bruised right knee), with all three players sent back to Los Angeles to focus on rehab.

“There’s no reason for them to travel,” coach JJ Redick said. “They’ve got acute injuries that frankly, they’re better served without the travel and rehabbing back in L.A. They won’t play (on Friday), but they’re day to day from here on out.”

Doncic Carrying the Load

Luka Doncic did everything he could to lift the Lakers in Thursday’s 126-106 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, tying his season high with 45 points. Since joining the Lakers last month, Doncic has been their focal point, averaging 26.1 points per game in 13 starts.

James has been dominant when healthy, averaging 25.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. Austin Reaves has also stepped up, contributing 18.9 points per contest.

Jokic and the Nuggets Looking to Capitalize

The Lakers shut down Denver star Nikola Jokic in their last meeting on Feb. 22, holding him to just 13 points on 2-for-7 shooting. However, Jokic still recorded a triple-double, and the Nuggets struggled overall, shooting just 40% in a 123-100 loss.

Jokic continues to put up MVP-caliber numbers, averaging 29.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game—all ranking in the top three in the NBA.

Jamal Murray (21.4 ppg), Michael Porter Jr. (18.3 ppg), and Christian Braun (15.3 ppg) provide additional firepower, while Aaron Gordon (13.1 ppg) is questionable with an ankle injury that has sidelined him for two games.

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Jokic is also dealing with soreness in his right elbow and ankle but is expected to play.

MVP Race Heats Up

Despite flirting with a historic triple-double season, Jokic is not currently the MVP favorite. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s leading scorer, is widely considered the front-runner.

“We believe he is the sole MVP,” Nuggets teammate Peyton Watson said of Jokic. “And he has been for the last four, five years.”

While Denver sits 12 games behind Oklahoma City in the standings, a win over Los Angeles would strengthen their bid for the No. 2 seed in the West.