Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Pick: Click here for expert NBA basketball picks | Bet: Click here to bet on this game | Odds: Click here for current odds

Two of the highest flying teams engage in a Friday night fight at Staples Center, but both may or may not be with their superstars. The Denver Nuggets (33-16, 22-25-2 ATS) are still awaiting the return of F Carmelo Anthony, but even though the Syracuse product is questionable, they’ll still be ready to take on the defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers (38-12, 22-26-2 ATS). The Lakers have their own injury headaches to worry about, as G Kobe Bryant is a game-time decision with an injured ankle. Both teams are struggling ATS right now, as they’ve both dropped two straight NBA betting duels. The Nuggets fell at home to Phoenix 109-97 on Wednesday night, while the Lakers failed to cover the 10.5-point spread in their 99-97 victory over Charlotte.

Without Melo in the lineup, this offense just hasn’t looked nearly the same. Denver is scoring just 99.5 points per game in the six basketball wagering wars in which Anthony didn’t suit it up with this ankle injury, which is a far cry from the 106.8 points per game that it is averaging for the season. G Chauncey Billups has stepped up his scoring efforts quite a bit, as he has poured in 20+ points in four of those six games.

The Lakers know that they have the talent to succeed against anyone in the NBA even if Kobe isn’t on his game or can’t suit it up. The focus will move to the inside though, where F Pau Gasol and C Andrew Bynum can dominate the paint against anyone in the NBA. That duo is combining to average 32.5 points and 19.0 rebounds per game, and that doesn’t even include how well F Lamar Odom has played this year in the post either (9.7 points, 9.7 rebounds per game).

The Lakers certainly have a score to settle with the Nuggets after getting crushed 105-79 at the Pepsi Center back in November. The boys in purple and gold were held to just eight points in a pitiful 3rd quarter, and HC Phil Jackson surely won’t let them forget it. In spite of that lopsided defeat, Los Angeles is still 13-6 ATS in its L/19 NBA gambling battles versus Denver.

Visit Touthouse.com for more NBA basketball picks from our professional sports handicappers. Be sure to sign-up for our free sports predictions newsletter for exclusive betting information from our experts. Preview Courtesy of North Shore Sports Inc.

If you enjoyed this article then you may be interested in:

1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Odds & Picks: May 19th 2009
2. NBA Betting: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds & Predictions: May 29th 2009
3. NBA Betting Odds: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Free Pick: April 28th
4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Odds, Pick & Prediction: January 21st 2010
5. Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets Free Pick & Odds: April 12th