🏀 Nuggets vs. Lakers Player Props Today: NBA Picks & Best Bets (March 14)

The Los Angeles Lakers host the Denver Nuggets, who are playing their third game in four days, as the NBA playoffs approach. Tonight's action is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff at Crypto.com Arena, airing on ABC.  The Nuggets are trading as a 3-point betting favorite.

Our best Nuggets vs. Lakers player props today fade both sides' centers in this spot, as the Nuggets should have a key rim protector and interior scorer available. My NBA picks and best bets series also highlights a 

🏀 Best Nuggets vs. Lakers player props today: NBA picks for March 14

See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 5 units | Max profit: 4.5 units

💰 Best Nuggets vs. Lakers prop bet

Nikola Jokic Under 28.5 points (-105)

Aaron Gordon is probable for tonight's action, so the Nuggets will have plenty of scoring options down low. Jokic is averaging 28.7 points per game this year (and since the All-Star Break), so with a full supporting cast available, this number feels a bit high.

The Lakers play slowly and don't allow much scoring to centers. L.A. is 20th in pace and first in points-per-game allowed to centers, and held Jokic to just 28 less than two weeks ago in a game the Nuggets played without Gordon or Cameron Johnson. 

Buy the Under 28.5 for -105 (51.2%) at FanDuel. 

🔥 More Nuggets vs. Lakers prop picks

Deandre Ayton Under 18.5 points & rebounds

Following his early exit versus Denver a few weeks ago, Ayton has bounced back nicely. He tallied 33 points and rebounds versus an undersized Chicago Bulls team on Thursday, creating a solid sell-high spot for us here. Ayton is averaging only 17.5 points and rebounds since Feb. 1, staying under versus truly competitive teams like the Knicks (twice), Thunder, and Celtics.

While Ayton feasts against low-quality competition, he struggles to stay on the floor against quality opposition. That's a problem versus a Nuggets team that has allowed the 11th-fewest points per game to centers (and the fourth-fewest rebounds) over the last 15 games, most of which were played without Gordon.

Back Ayton for Under 18.5 points and rebounds for -120 at bet365. 

Marcus Smart Over 7.5 points (-118)

This spot is a good one for the Lakers to get Marcus Smart involved on offense. The Nuggets surrender the fifth-most corner 3's per game (4) while Smart leads the Lakers in corner 3's attempted (1.8) and made (0.8) over the last 15 contests. He just scored nine points versus Denver, all from long distance, less than two weeks ago.

The veteran defensive specialist is averaging 9.4 points per game on the year on steady splits of 40/34/81. With his points prop sitting at such a low number, it's worth getting some action on him to go Over 7.5 for -118 (54.1%) at FanDuel.

🚀 Nuggets vs. Lakers same-game parlay

For our Nuggets vs. Lakers SGP picks, let's head to FanDuel. While they aren't offering a good line for Ayton, we can fade him elsewhere and maximize our edge on Smart's 3-point shooting by doubling-down on him. I doubt he'll reach the eight-point threshold without a pair of treys, so we're getting a slightly better price while incurring minimal risk by adding that leg to our parlay.

💡 How I'm betting Nuggets vs. Lakers

Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.

I'm allocating about five units to this game's player prop markets. While I like the Jokic play the most, that largely comes down to price -105 (51.2%). Aaron Gordon's fluctuating availability makes the Nuggets' props (and their opponents') tricky to price correctly, so I'm happy to have dug up three spots that I see as inefficient for tonight's game. I generally advise playing them all separately to diversify your risk.  

🚑 Nuggets vs. Lakers injuries

📺 How to watch Nuggets vs. Lakers

• Date: Saturday, March 14
• Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
• TV: ABC