Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets
Kobe Bryant dropped a game-high 41 points as the Lakers tore apart the Nuggets in the fourth quarter to earn a 103-97 victory on Saturday as 3.5-point underdogs.
That game's 200 points went UNDER the posted total of 212.5.
Pau Gasol collected a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.
Chauncey Billups had 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Nuggets.
Team records:
Los Angeles: 65-17 SU, 42-39-1 ATS
Denver: 54-28 SU, 45-36-1 ATS
Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Monday are 7-3
Before playing Denver are 9-1
After playing Denver are 7-3
After a win are 5-5
Denver most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing LA Lakers are 6-4
After playing LA Lakers are 4-6
After a loss are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games when playing on the road against Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of the LA Lakers last 10 games when playing Denver
LA Lakers are 12-2 SU in their last 14 games when playing Denver
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
Denver is 16-1 SU in its last 17 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Denver's last 10 games when playing LA Lakers
Denver is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Next up:
Denver at LA Lakers, Wednesday, May 27
LA LAKERS (75 - 22) at DENVER (63 - 32)
Top Trends for this game.
DENVER is 57-37 ATS (+16.3 Units) in all games this season.
DENVER is 37-24 ATS (+10.6 Units) as a favorite this season.
DENVER is 29-18 ATS (+9.2 Units) in home games this season.
DENVER is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in home games against Pacific division opponents this season.
DENVER is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
DENVER is 32-20 ATS (+10.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
DENVER is 23-7 ATS (+15.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
LA LAKERS are 106-91 ATS (+5.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) as an underdog this season.
LA LAKERS are 56-39 ATS (+13.1 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 205 and 209.5 points over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 56-39 ATS (+13.1 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 39-20 ATS (+17.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
LA LAKERS are 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LA LAKERS is 12-6 against the spread versus DENVER over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 13-5 straight up against DENVER over the last 3 seasons
13 of 18 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS vs. DENVER
LA Lakers are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games when playing Denver
LA Lakers are 12-2 SU in their last 14 games when playing Denver
Denver is 11-1-1 ATS in its last 13 games
Denver is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games
LA LAKERS at DENVER
Play On - Any team (DENVER) after beating the spread by 48 or more points total in their last ten games against opponent after going under the total by 54 or more points total in their last ten games
90-52 over the last 5 seasons. ( 63.4% | 32.8 units )
15-14 this year. ( 51.7% | -0.4 units )
LA LAKERS at DENVER
Play On - Any team vs the money line (DENVER) after beating the spread by 54 or more points total in their last ten games against opponent after going under the total by 36 or more points total in their last five games
75-49 over the last 5 seasons. ( 60.5% | 34.5 units )
16-12 this year. ( 57.1% | 0.5 units )
LA LAKERS at DENVER
Play Under - All teams where the first half total is greater than 100 revenging a straight up loss vs opponent as a home favorite, good team, winning 60-75% or more of their games on the season
71-35 over the last 5 seasons. ( 67.0% | 32.5 units )
6-3 this year. ( 66.7% | 2.7 units )
Tips and Trends
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets
Lakers: The Lakers have issues, including Trevor Ariza's sore hip and groin and Kobe Bryant's banged-up body. And they got off to a slow start Saturday night. The Lakers know if not for the Nuggets' bad shot selection, they could very well be the ones facing a 2-1 hole. "We've got to come out with more focus, more energy and really just execute a lot better in the defensive end of the floor," said Bryant, who characterized the team mood as "still a little edgy, a little upset." Bryant needed an IV after the game Saturday night and said that was the most exhausted he'd ever been after a playoff game.
The Lakers are 7-2 SU and 8-1 ATS as an underdog this season.
The Under is 8-0 in the Lakers' last 8 Conference Finals games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 105
Nuggets (-4.5, O/U 208.5): Chauncey Billups said the Nuggets "shot some bad 3-point shots at bad points of the game, just taking chances, trying to hit the dagger," and vowed that would change for Game 4. "I think we got caught up in the emotion of the moment of a great crowd, a great challenge," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I think we tried to hit too many home runs rather than just take a single here, a double here and win the game that way. We tried to hit too many bombs. We've got to challenge the Lakers to play defense on every possession. I think we took too many shots where they didn't have to play defense."
The Nuggets are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games as a favorite.
The Under is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 109 (OVER - Total Play of the Day)
Western Conference Finals
LA Lakers at Denver
LA Lakers:
8-1 ATS as an underdog
12-4 ATS AWAY off a road win
Denver:
1-5 ATS when trailing in a playoff series
6-0 UNDER when trailing in a playoff series