Lakers vs. Nuggets prediction, odds: 2023 NBA Western Conference ...

Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Western Conference Finals takes place at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday evening. The Los Angeles Lakers face an urgent situation, down 2-0 in the series to the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers are 6-0 at home in the 2023 NBA playoffs and aim to continue that trend. The Nuggets enter with a clean injury report for the matchup. LeBron James (foot) and Anthony Davis (foot) are listed as probable for the Lakers, with Mo Bamba (ankle) ruled out.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Los Angeles as the 5.5-point favorite for this 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 223 in the latest Nuggets vs. Lakers odds, down half a point from the opening line. Before making any Nuggets vs. Lakers picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model entered the conference finals of the 2023 NBA playoffs a stunning 72-38 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,900. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Nuggets and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Nuggets vs. Lakers:

Lakers vs. Nuggets spread: Lakers -5.5Lakers vs. Nuggets over/under: 223 pointsLakers vs. Nuggets money line: Lakers -260, Nuggets +210DEN: The Nuggets are 21-25 against the spread in road gamesLAL: The Lakers are 27-21 against the spread in home gamesLakers vs. Nuggets picks: See picks at SportsLine Why the Nuggets can cover

Denver is led by a prolific duo with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Jokic is averaging 30.4 points, 13.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game during the playoffs after a regular season in which he finished in the top three of the NBA in true shooting percentage, rebounds per game and assists per game during the regular season. Jokic is the fulcrum for Denver's offensive attack, but Murray raises the team's ceiling. He is averaging 34.0 points per game in the series, and Murray caught fire to lead Denver to a Game 2 win. 

Overall, Denver is utterly dynamic on offense, scoring almost 1.19 points per possession in the playoffs and 1.20 points per possession against the Lakers. That comes after a regular season in which the Nuggets posted top-five marks in offensive rating, field goal percentage, 2-point percentage, 3-point percentage, assists per game, fast break points and points in the paint during the regular season. Denver is also playing well on defense in recent days, giving up 110.9 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs and only 1.01 points per possession to Los Angeles in Game 2. See which team to back here.

Why the Lakers can cover

The Lakers have the better defense in this matchup. Los Angeles is allowing only 108.4 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs, including only 1.06 points allowed per possession in Game 2 against Denver. The Lakers have been even better at home, giving up only 0.98 points per possession at Crypto.com Arena during the playoffs. Los Angeles is perfect at home, winning all six postseason games, and the Lakers are out-scoring opponents by almost 18 points per 100 possessions. The Lakers give up only 43.2% shooting from the field and 34.4% from 3-point range in the playoffs, and Los Angeles is excellent when it comes to free throw margin. 

In addition to a league-leading mark in free throw creation on offense during the regular season, the Lakers led the league in free throw prevention on defense, and Los Angeles is giving up only 16.8 attempts per game in the playoffs. Davis leads the playoffs in rebounding and blocked shots during the postseason, and the Lakers found a new wrinkle in using James to defend Jokic at times in Game 2. See which team to back here.

How to make Nuggets vs. Lakers picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 229 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Game 3 of Lakers vs. Nuggets in the NBA Western Conference finals 2023, and which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has has gone 72-38 on its top-rated NBA picks, and find out.