NBA Picks: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers (28-29) have won all three of their games since the NBA All-Star break, which is important to consider when making your pro basketball picks Monday night, when they will be taking on the Denver Nuggets (35-22) at the Pepsi Center.

Sports bettors will find that the Lakers are 7.5-point road underdogs in the NBA betting odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 218 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this Western Conference matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

Los Angeles Lakers

USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a 103-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks as three-point road underdogs Sunday, while going under the total for the first time in four contests.

Sports bettors will find that the Lakers are 0-2 against the spread off an upset win as an underdog during the 2012-13 NBA season.

Denver Nuggets

USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets have alternated wins and losses over their last four games, and they are coming off a 113-99 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats as 10-point road favorites last Saturday.

It's important for bettors to see that the Nuggets are 4-3 against the spread as home favorites of 6.5 to nine points this season.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Los Angeles Lakers as one of their sports betting picks Monday night, as the Denver Nuggets are 5.5-point home favorites in this affair.

NBA Picks: Los Angeles Lakers +7.5

 

Follow Jeff Grant on Twitter