Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 2 NBA Playoffs Odds – May 18

Lakers vs. Nuggets 2023 NBA Playoffs Game 2 Odds and Game Preview – May 18th

By Jeff Stinger • May 17, 2023

Denver takes the first win of the Western Conference Finals series versus the Lakers. The hosts survived a late surge from Los Angeles despite holding onto a comfortable lead early into the fourth quarter. Nikola Jokic recorded his second 30-point triple-double in the 2023 NBA Playoffs and played a significant role in their victory. It was a great opening performance for head coach Michael Malone and his crew to set the tone. However, we also know that the Lakers will act quickly to level the series before heading home.

Nitrobetting is ready to dish out key assists and lob passes with betting tips and news coverage throughout the 2023 NBA Playoffs. We break down the upcoming playoff showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets.

2023 NBA Playoffs: Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 2 Information

When: Thursday, May 18, 2023, 8:30 PM ET
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
TV: ESPN
Radio: SiriusXM NBA Radio
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
NBA Betting Odds: Lakers (+6.0) / Nuggets (-6.0)

Why Bet on the Los Angeles Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers fought a good fight in their first playoff meeting with Denver since the bubble. Both teams were neck-and-neck from the field. The Lakers were 54.8% from the field and 45.8% from deep while shooting better from the line at 88.5%.

Anthony Davis topped out at 40 points on 14 of 23 shooting and a perfect 11 of 11 on the line. Although was not as dominant on the glass, he did well to keep his team alive towards the end of the clash. It was veteran forward LeBron James who led his team with 12 boards and nine dimes in 40 minutes. Meanwhile, Austin Reaves sprung into life in the fourth and hit a few three-pointers to keep the Nuggets’ lead to single digits. The 24-year-old ended his night with 23 points, eight assists, and a pair of rebounds.

The Lakers struggled to collect rebounds against the Nuggets. The squad collected 30 total rebounds and only five offensive boards last night. They also wrestled with scoring off Denver’s turnovers but could only convert five points off their opponent’s 11 turnovers. If the visitors can bounce back from an off-rebounding night and spring their 46.8 total board per game averages to life, we eagerly await Thursday’s meeting.

Why Bet on the Denver Nuggets?

Nikola Jokic is near unstoppable at this point. The Serbian big man finished his night with another 30-point triple-double. This is his second in the playoffs since annihilating the Phoenix. The Joker closed the books with 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 assists. Five other players scored double-digits for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray had 31 points, while Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. combined for 27 points. Meanwhile, former Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Browse Brown Jr. had 21 and 16 points off the bench, respectively.

As a team, the Nuggets were 54.9% from the field and 46.9% from deep. They were a bit shaky from the line and missed five of 22 free throws. However, the hosts outplayed the Lakers on the glass. Denver finished the night with 47 rebounds, including 15 crucial offensive boards. The Nuggets remained composed throughout the first three quarters and held off a fourth-quarter run by the Lakers.

It’s been an impressive postseason run for the Nuggets just by looking at the team stats alone. In 11 playoff games, the team averaged 115.8 points per game on 48.9% from the field. They also have respectable three-point shooting figures at 37.9% and are one of the more reliable teams from the line at 81.5%.

Lakers vs. Nuggets Betting Trends

The Lakers won three of their last five playoff games (4-1 ATS).
Los Angeles won three of their last four playoff clashes versus Denver (2-3 ATS).
The totals have gone over in three of the Lakers’ last five playoff games.
Denver won five of their last five home playoff games (3-2 ATS).
The Nuggets are 3-2 in their last five home playoff meetings against the Lakers (2-3 ATS).
The totals have gone over in three of the Nuggets’ last five home playoff contests.

Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 2 Expert Betting Prediction

The Lakers were good enough to get past the defending champions despite working through inconsistent performances from Anthony Davis. Their wins were a result of quality defense. However, if they want to make things work in Game 2, consistency is key to beating this tough Nuggets crew. Meanwhile, the Nuggets look good after a confident opening game win. Although the hosts gave up a double-digit lead late into the clash, the team stood its ground and came up with a six-point victory.

Game 1’s results let us know that the Lakers have what it takes to cover the spread. In fact, a win is not off the table here. They cut the deficit late into the game to three points but couldn’t wrap things up. Denver remains the game favorite. However, the next matchup could easily be tighter the second time around.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting News. Stay tuned for more basketball previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.