NBA Betting Free Picks: Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver
Added on Apr 09, 2010 by Jack Thurman in
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Sportsbooks offering a short slate of NBA betting opportunities for Thursday but we’ll take a position on a Western Conference matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have the top spot in the conference, while Denver is one of several teams vying for the runner up position.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets
April 8, 7:35 Pacific
The Lakers have had the look of a team biding its time until the playoffs start for awhile now, but they still have some regular season business to take care of. They still haven’t clinched the conference title despite holding a commanding lead. L.A. has been off since an embarassing home loss to San Antonio on Sunday, while Denver played last night at Oklahoma City. Nuggets have won three straight, but they’re simply not the same team without Kenyon Martin and particularly on the defensive end. They’ve been a disaster against the spread since he’s been out of the lineup with only two pointspread covers in their last 12 games.
This looks to be a potential ‘statement’ spot for the defending NBA champs, off of a loss and with a national TV audience on TNT. Lakers may get Andrew Bynum back here–he’s suggested this game as a potential return from a strained Achilles’ tendon–and should be in a position to take advantage of Denver’s defensive liabilities without Martin in the lineup. George Karl’s absence from the sidelines as he undergoes treatment for cancer doesn’t help the home team either. Denver routed the Lakers at home earlier this season, with L.A. winning the next two games at the Staples Center. Good chance for Kobe and company to regain some of their swagger and lock down the best record in the West as they should win outright here.
Bet Los Angeles Lakers +2′ over Denver
