Free NBA Pick
Denver Nuggets (37-19) at Los Angeles Lakers (43-14) Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 3:30 PM 2/28/10
The Nuggets and Lakers get together for a prime time Sunday matchup between the two best teams in their prospective conferences. This game could also represent a possible playoff preview.
Leading scorer Carmelo Anthony (29.2 ppg) leads the Nuggets in the chase to try and make up ground on the Lakers. Currently, the Lakers are the top seed in the playoffs and the Nuggets are the second seed. The Nuggets got a big win over the Cavaliers just after the All Star break, 118-116 in overtime. The next game though, was a disappointment, as they lost to the decimated Washington Wizards. The Nuggets have had to deal with news that their coach, George Karl, is suffering from cancer for the second time, keeping him away from the team.
The Lakers sport a high scoring lineup with five players averaging double figures. Kobe Bryant leads the team with 28 points per game and Lamar Odom is averaging a double-double with 10.1 points and 10 rebounds per game. After missing five games, Bryant came back with a bang, scoring over 30 points against the Grizzlies.
The Lakers are almost unbeatable at home, with a 26-5 record at the Staples Center. The Nuggets, while being similarly tough at home, has struggled a bit more on the road, with a 13-14 record. One of the Lakers’ home losses, though, came at the hands of the Nuggets, earlier this month. In the high scoring affair, Chauncey Billups scored a career high 39 points and the Nuggets held off the Lakers, despite 33 from Bryant. Anthony was also forced to miss the game with an ankle injury. The Nuggets won the game 126-113.
The Nuggets also beat the Lakers earlier in the season, 105-79. Anthony did play in that game, and scored 25 to lead the Nuggets. Bryant was quieter than normal with 19 points.
This is the third of four meetings in the regular season, but don’t be surprised if there is a best-of-seven series later this year for these two teams.
The Lakers are favored by 6 points. The total is listed at 209.
Denver Betting Trends:
Denver is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games |
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games |
Denver is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road |
Denver is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road |
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games on the road |
Denver is 5-14 SU in their last 19 games when playing LA Lakers |
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Denver's last 15 games when playing LA Lakers |
Denver is 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers |
Denver is 3-16 SU in their last 19 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers |
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
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LA Betting Trends
LA Lakers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games |
LA Lakers are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games |
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the LA Lakers last 8 games |
LA Lakers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games at home |
LA Lakers are 22-3 SU in their last 25 games at home |
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Lakers last 5 games at home |
LA Lakers are 14-5 SU in their last 19 games when playing Denver |
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of the LA Lakers last 15 games when playing Denver |
LA Lakers are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games when playing at home against Denver |
LA Lakers are 16-3 SU in their last 19 games when playing at home against Denver |
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 7 games when playing at home against Denver
Pick: Denver +6
Stats by Bodog.com |
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