NBA Playoffs 2012: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Game 7 Odds

The Denver Nuggets (3-3) and Los Angeles Lakers (3-3) will close out their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series on Saturday night in Game 7 at the Staples Center, with the opening tip scheduled for 10:30 ET on TNT.

Pinnacle Sports has opened the Lakers as six-point home favorites, while the total has plummeted by 1.5 points to settle in at 197.

Los Angeles has failed to close out the series in its last two opportunities, including a 113-96 blowout loss as three-point road underdogs on Thursday night. The Lakers received 31 points from flu-ridden star Kobe Bryant, but nothing else from the rest of the roster.

Power forward Pau Gasol was nearly invisible for most of the night at the Pepsi Center in Game 6, finishing with three points on 1-of-10 shooting, which is surprising due to the team's 12-2 record entering the contest when trying to close out opponents in a playoff series with him on the roster.

Sports bettors will need to factor in that the Lakers are just 11-10 all-time in best-of-seven postseason series when falling flat in Game 6.

Denver is starting to show why it led the NBA in scoring during the regular season, as five players finished Thursday night's game in double figures, with point guard Ty Lawson leading the way with a game-high 32 points. The former North Carolina Tar Heels star led the team in scoring during the regular season.

The Nuggets have all the momentum and will likely attract plenty of action at the betting window, considering they've gone 38-15 against the spread in their last 53 road games.

Bryant will likely need to go for 40-plus in hopes of taking on former teammate Derek Fisher and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. The five-time champion is averaging 31.1 points per game in this series.

Despite the recent lackluster play by the Lakers—I'm going to give Peace a chance.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers advance to the second round

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