Lakers vs. Nuggets Predictions, Lineups & Odds for Game 2: NBA WCF, 5/18

The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets are set to square off for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday, with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 PM ET. In Game 1, the Nuggets came away victorious by a six-point margin, 132-126.

The Lakers will now look to even up the series at a game apiece, while the Nuggets look to gain some separation and move the series to 2-0. Below, we’ll provide our top Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions for Game 2 and explain how you can qualify to earn $150 in bonus bets with DraftKings Sportsbook.

LAKERS VS. NUGGETS PREDICTION: Denver Nuggets -5.5 (-105 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

If you’ve seen enough and are ready to tail our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions, click this link to create an account with DraftKings Sportsbook. Once you sign up using a link from this article, make a deposit of at least $5 and bet $5 or more on any sports market (such as our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions), you’ll earn $150 in bonus bet credits instantly.

No bet outcome or promo code is required to qualify; instead, you’ll just need to sign up using a link from this article to earn your credits.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Game 2 Predictions

Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets had excellent scoring performances in Game 1, with both teams topping 125 points. The victorious Nuggets were led by Nikola Jokic’s historic triple-double (34 points, 21 rebounds, 14 assists) and point guard Jamal Murray (31 points, 5 five rebounds, five assists); however, six players turned in scoring performances of 10 or more points, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope adding an additional 21 points and Michael Porter Jr. adding a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds).

This kind of multi-dimensional offensive attack is incredibly difficult for opponents to contain, especially if everyone is on at the same time.

The Lakers didn’t have a poor performance in the loss, however. They were primarily led by Anthony Davis (40 points, 10 rebounds, three assists) and LeBron James (26 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists), though Austin Reeves (23 points, eight rebounds) and Rui Hachimura (17 points) also made significant contributions. Those four players were the only Lakers to record more than eight points.

While the Lakers certainly have more star power at the top of their roster than the Nuggets, the Nuggets seem to be the deeper team at this point in the playoffs. Even if Anthony Davis and LeBron James combine for nearly 70 points each night, it will be an uphill battle for Los Angeles if they don’t get more contributions from their role players.

Until Los Angeles can showcase a little more versatility and provide some help for their superstars, it’s going to be difficult for bettors to back them. As a result, our top Lakers vs. Nuggets prediction is for the Nuggets to cover the 5.5-point spread and cash in on their -105 odds at DraftKings.

Lakers vs. Nuggets Picks & Best Bets for Today

Another line that makes the cut among our top Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions for Game 2 is the total, currently set at 227 (over -110) on DraftKings. Both teams had impressive offensive showings in Game 1, and we’d expect that to continue in Game 2.

The two teams combined for 258 points in Game 1, which would have easily covered Game 2’s total for over backers. Look for Game 2 to be another shootout, rewarding those who tail our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions and cashing on the -110 over odds.

If you agree with our points total analysis and want to back our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions, click this link to sign up with DraftKings Sportsbook. Once you create an account using the link above, deposit at least $5 and bet $5 or more on any sports market (including our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions), you’ll earn $150 in bonus bets instantly. No promo code or bet outcome is required.

Best Player Props for Lakers vs. Nuggets Featuring Anthony Davis

Beyond the Nuggets against the spread, there are some additional player props that make the cut among our top Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions. The first of these involves Lakers superstar Anthony Davis’ total points prop, currently set at 24.5 (over -115) on DraftKings. While Davis struggled somewhat in the Western Conference Semifinals, his 40-point explosion in Game 1 is exactly the sign of life we were looking for.

Davis is one of the most talented players in the NBA, and – when the matchups are right – he can score an unreal number of points. It seems Davis enjoyed his matchup in Game 1; however, the Nuggets will likely look to shut him down with double teams in Game 2.

Still, when Davis gets hot, there’s almost nobody as good with the ball in his hands. We like the -115 odds for the relatively low 24.5 prop.

If you agree with our analysis and want to tail our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions, click this link to create a DraftKings Sportsbook account and qualify for their ‘Bet $5, get $150’ new-user promo.

How to Bet on the Lakers vs. Nuggets With DraftKings and Win $150 in Bet Credits Instantly

DraftKings Sportsbook is making it easy to pad your bankroll as you bet on the Western Conference Finals. To qualify for their ‘Bet $5, get $150’ new-user bonus, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Be a first-time DraftKings Sportsbook user
• Be 21 years old or older
• Be located in an area where DraftKings Sportsbook operates
• Sign up for an account by clicking on this link
• Make a deposit of at least $5
• Bet $5 or more on any sports market (such as our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions)

Once you follow the steps outlined above, you’ll earn $150 in bonus bet credits instantly – regardless of your bet’s outcome. No promo code is required, either; instead, you’ll need to sign up using the link above to ensure you qualify.

Betting Odds for Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 2

Here are the latest betting odds for Thursday’s matchup between the Lakers and Nuggets, per DraftKings Sportsbook:

• Money line: Los Angeles Lakers (+175), Denver Nuggets (-205)
• Point spread: Los Angeles Lakers +5.5 (-115), Denver Nuggets -5.5 (-105)
• Point total: Over 227 (-110), Under 227 (-110)

If these odds look enticing to you or you’d like to tail our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions for Game 2, click this link to create a DraftKings Sportsbook account. Once you sign up using a link from this article, make a deposit of at least $5 and bet $5 or more on any sports market (including our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions), you’ll earn $150 in bonus bet credits instantly. No promo code is required.

Lakers vs. Nuggets Series Winner Prediction: Who Will Win the 2023 Western Conference Finals?

While it’s still a bit early to confidently predict the outcome of this series, Denver showed a lot of promise in Game 1. While their offense is primarily centered around Nikola Jokic, that’s not a bad thing if he’s going to record 30+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 10+ assists. Jokic is a one-of-a-kind player who is surrounded by some underrated talent (such as Jamal Murray), which makes for a solid squad.

Though the Lakers feature Anthony Davis and LeBron James (two likely first-ballot Hall-of-Famers), they are fairly thin past those two. As a result, our Lakers vs. Nuggets prediction for the series is for Denver to win, though we wouldn’t be surprised if it takes six or seven games for them to finally clinch it.

If you’d like to tail any of our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions for Game 2 or the series, click this link to sign up with DraftKings Sportsbook. Once you register using a link from this article, make a deposit of $5 or more and bet $5 or more on any sports market – like our Lakers vs. Nuggets predictions – you’ll earn $150 in bonus bets regardless of your qualifying wager’s outcome. 

No promo code is required, either – just sign up using a link from this article to ensure you qualify and earn your credits.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.