Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets
Free Pick: Denver Nuggets +6.5 (-110)
Tue May 19 ’09 9:05p – Click here for NBA betting odds
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The Nuggets have been the most dominant team in the Western Conference Playoffs thus far, as it has taken them just 10 games to reach this point. Not surprisingly, Denver has done it with its offense averaging 111.5 PPG reaching the 100-point mark in all but one of their playoff contests. The big difference maker for these Nuggets has been the play of G Chauncey Billups who averaged 21.6 PPG in their series with the Mavs. Billups’ 28 points in Game 5 proved to be the dagger for Dallas as the Nuggets once again defended their home court. Perhaps his biggest contribution to the team has been distributing the basketball where he’s averaged 7.3 APG in these playoffs. Denver is 20-6 ATS in its L/26 games overall.

The Lakers must be tired after underachieving against a much smaller Houston Rockets team in the second round. It will be hard to tell which team will show up when the Lakers are just 2-3 ATS in these playoffs after a double-digit victory. “The Lake Show” still consists of one star and that is of course G Kobe Bryant who scored a quiet 14 points in the Lakers Game 7 home win and cover on Sunday. Bryant averaged 27.4 PPG in the Houston series including a series high 40-point performance in Game 2. LA is 7-3 ATS in their L/10 home games.

The Lakers covered both of their home match-ups with the Nuggets this season, but those were different times and that was against a much different Denver squad. Look for the Nuggets, who are the much fresher team, to cover the spread against the Lakers in Game 1 if not win outright! The Nuggets are an undefeated 10-0 ATS in the 2009 NBA playoffs so far and I look for that streak to stay intact against this tired bunch from LA tonight.

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