Nuggets Try to Pull Even with Lakers in Game 4

Despite some nervous moments down the stretch of Game 3, the Denver Nuggets succeeded in vaulting back into the Western Conference final vs the Los Angeles Lakers and will try to tie the series at 2-2 in Game 4 on Thursday. The Nuggets hung on for a 114-106 victory after watching the Lakers rally to within three points from being down as many as 20 in the early stages of the fourth quarter.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Lakers opened at -6.5, but the line has shifted down a half-point and is now the lowest it has been in the series. The total kicked off at 215.5 but has dropped by a point at most sportsbooks.

Los Angeles News & Notes

Everyone knows that three-point shooting isn’t exactly the Lakers’ strength – but going just 6-for-26 from beyond the arc essentially cost them a chance to go up 3-0 in the series. And as has been the case far too often, L.A. didn’t get much at all from players not named LeBron or AD, with the rest of the team producing just 49 points – eight fewer than the Lakers’ dynamic duo.

Ball distribution was an issue as well. Nobody outside of LeBron (11) and Rajon Rondo (8) had more than one assist on the night, although it should also be noted the duo did have 10 of the team’s 16 turnovers. The OVER on Rondo’s assist prop might be worth a look again in Game 4; he’s averaging 8.7 assists in the series so far.

Denver News & Notes

In Game 1, the Nuggets produced on offense but couldn’t contain the Lakers offense. Two nights later, Denver’s defense improved but the offense stagnated. The Nuggets finally pulled it all together in Game 3, scoring an incredible 93 points through the first three quarters while shooting nearly 55 percent from the floor in the victory.

One of the most encouraging things to come out of Game 3 besides the Denver victory was the ball distribution efforts of Jamal Murray. The talented point guard, who first made a name for himself in this postseason with a pair of 50-point efforts vs Utah, dished out 12 assists Tuesday and is a good bet to go OVER his Game 4 assist prop, which is set at 6.5.

Betting Pick: Denver +6 (-110)

We feel encouraged about the Nuggets’ ability to avoid a third consecutive 3-1 series deficit – but even if they don’t pull out the win, they should fare well enough to cover.