NBA · Sat (5/20) @ 8:30pm ET
| DEN Nuggets | at | LA Lakers |
| Staples Center, Los Angeles, California | ||
Up to $1,000 paid back in bonus bets at BetMGM with code: TODAY
Home is where the chalk is.
A change in venue prompts a change in betting sentiment when the Los Angeles Lakers host Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets.
At first glance, the heavy Lakers backing might project the belief that they actually lead the series.
The Lakers instead trail 2-0 but are indeed going home, where neither team has lost this entire postseason.
The bettors are following them there.
More hoops: Odds to win 2023 NBA Finals | NBA Playoff game betting lines | NBA Finals MVP odds
Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 3 Odds: Spread, Moneyline, Total
At DraftKings, the Lakers opened at -5 after losing Game 2 in Denver, 108-103. By late Friday morning, they were +5.5.
They were a whopping -215 on the moneyline for Game 3.
The Over-Under was 223.5 after the category split in Denver. The Over romped with a 132-126 Denver triumph in Game 1, while the Under bettors cashed in the 108-103 second game.
FanDuel had similar numbers across the board.
Here are the Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 3 odds, including spread, moneyline, and total, from our top-rated mobile sportsbooks.
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Nuggets vs. Lakers Betting Trends
Gamblers were all over the Lakers when the first odds were posted Friday morning at DraftKings.
Los Angeles had 89% of the spread handle and 70% of the tickets.
In what’s been a series trend, the bigger and smaller moneyline action have gone different ways.
The Lakers sported 97% of the moneyline at -205, but only 52% of the tickets. Smaller wagers back the idea that the Nuggets at +185 are a good value. The Lakers still have the moneyline majority, but the Nuggets are a vibrant minority.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 3 Betting News
Both teams have enjoyed the same home-court success against each other as they have against the rest of the league.
Home teams are 6-0 in games between the Lakers and Nuggets in the regular season and playoffs.
Denver improved to 8-0 in the playoffs, 42-7 for the entire season, best in the NBA.
The Nuggets can secure their first-ever berth in an NBA Final round by preserving homecourt alone.
The Lakers are 2-0 against the game-time spread at DraftKings, covering +7 in the opener and +5.5 in Game 2.
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Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 3 Betting Props
To Go Over or Under the Points Total (DraftKings)
Anthony Davis 24.5 (Both sides -115)
Jamal Murray 25.5 (Over -110, Under -120)
LeBron James 25.5 (Over -110, Under -120)
Nikola Jokic 28.5 (Over -115, Under -125)
FanDuel
Jokic notched a Triple Double in Game 2. He’s had seven in the playoffs. That’s why he’s a huge chalk, -155, to do it again.
James is +500, down from +750 in Game 2, where he just missed.
Murray is +7000.
Top Point Scorer
Jokic +155
Murray +290. He scored 23 fourth-quarter points in Game 2. That translates into betting love for Game 3.
James +320
Davis +390
Austin Reaves +4200
Team to Lead at the End of Every Quarter
Nuggets +600
Lakers +162
Any Other -122
Lakers vs. Nuggets Early Series Prop Betting Highlights: DraftKings Gambler Turns 10 into a Ton in Game 1
One customer had a great SGP win on the LA Lakers @ DEN Nuggets Game 1. It was a 10-leg, $10 wager with +150000 odds for a payout of $15,010. Winning selections are below:
- LeBron James Over 9.5 Rebounds
- Michael Porter Jr. Over 7.5 Rebounds
- Nikola Jokic Over 14.5 Rebounds
- LeBron James Over 7.5 Assists
- Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 Assists
- Austin Reaves 5+ Assists
- Anthony Davis 20+ Points
- Austin Reaves 15+ Points
- Nikola Jokic 30+ Points
- LeBron James 25+ Points
The wager was primarily genius, with a dash of sweat.
The genius element was committing to an offensive shootout and placing the entire wager accordingly.
What better way to play these bets than into an Over hot zone.
With 258 points, the Lakers and Nuggets gave this ticket every chance to succeed. That was the fundamental strength of this play.
What’s unusual was the ease with which nine of these legs hit. A 10-pronged wager usually has at least three items that can go either way.
This only had one. James was able to seal the deal, however, by making two free throws in the final minute to secure 26 points. The free throws mattered even more when James missed his final two shots.
“Yes, these bets are longshots, but we have millions of people on our site every day and there is at least one of these that hits every day,” Johnny Avello, the director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, told Gaming Today.
“What you really have to be impressed with is that these people can get a major score without betting a lot.”
Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 2 Prop Result Winners
DraftKings
Davis Over 12.5 rebounds (-125)
Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds (-120)
FanDuel
Jokic -135 for a Triple Double. He’s done it seven times in the playoffs. Check, please. The last version was 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Any Other result at -122 for no team to be leading after every quarter. Some gamblers see this as a no-brainer and were happy to lean into -122. That’s not too heavy on the juice.
Tough Luck Loss: Two Props Hung on One Rebound
C’mon Lebron, bettors urged late in Game 2. Please, just one more board. One.
It didn’t come.
He just missed delivering on two wagers.
One was a prop at +115 to get double-digit rebounds. He ended with nine.
But the category that hurt most was the triple-double. It would have paid +750.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 3 Prediction
This game lays right for the Lakers.
They cover. I took it at -5 as it went up.
I will also try to link a reduced alternate line into some MLB weekend series parlays.
Good luck.
How To Watch Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 3
Date: Saturday, May 20, 2023
Tip-off: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena — Los Angeles, CA
Where to Watch: ABC
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