Game 1 Second Half Gives Value to Lakers Game 2 +175 ML Odds

• Western Conference finals Game 2 odds favor the Denver Nuggets with a 5.5-point spread.
• The LA Lakers have +175 moneyline odds after outrebounding and outscoring the Nuggets in the second half of Game 1.
• Game 2’s total is set at 226.5 points, a four-point increase from Game 1.

DENVER – The Denver Nuggets are 5.5-point favorites against the Los Angeles Lakers for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday. The Lakers are receiving 51% of moneyline bets for Game 2 with +175 odds.

Defensive adjustments in the second half allowed Los Angeles to cut the consistent 20-point deficit down to three with 26 seconds remaining. Although they came up short, their second-half performance influenced their shortened betting odds for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers defense was bad in the first half but returned to the defense that allowed the fewest points per 100 possessions in the NBA after halftime. A key to this defensive success was Rui Hachimura, who’s defensive efforts could be responsible for the Lakers cashing their +175 moneyline odds on Thursday night.

Hachimura switched onto Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter, limiting him to three points (all from free throws), and forcing two turnovers across 10 minutes. Jokic’s historically efficient triple-double in the first three quarters was too much for the Lakers to overcome in Game 1, but late adjustments give promise to their +175 odds on legal betting sites to win Game 2.

Public Betting and Line Movement Changes Since Game 1

In Game 1, only 38% of spread and 23% of moneyline bets were on the Los Angeles Lakers. The public has more faith in LA for Game 2, receiving 51% of moneyline bets and 47% on the spread.

Game 1 early betting odds opened with the Nuggets at -191 and closed with them at -266. For Game 2, the Nuggets moneyline odds are going the opposite direction, opening at -225 and currently sitting at -210.

Despite the Nuggets perfect 7-0 home playoffs record, bettors are confident that the Lakers can even the series after shooting 66.7 percent from the field in the second half of Game 1.

Denver finished with a massive rebounding advantage of 47-30, but the Lakers outrebounded the Nuggets 17-11 in the second half. If the Lakers can avoid a major first half deficit in Game 2, their +175 moneyline odds on legal NBA betting sites are a great bet to pick up where they left off in Game 1.

The Nuggets and Lakers combined for 258 points in Game 1, crushing the over on their 222.5 total. As a result, the total has increased to 226.5 points for Game 2.

Denver’s 132 points is the most scored on LA all playoffs, as the Lakers have only given up more than 120 points in three of their 13 playoff games. Excluding Tuesday night’s game, the total in Lakers NBA Playoffs games has gone under 226.5 at a 58.3 percent rate.

With that, 61 percent of the public is betting the under at 226.5 points for Game 2.