The edge goes to the Nuggets at home against the Lakers on Saturday, December 19, at about 66%. That is a real edge, but the Lakers are far from out of it.
How the Win Meter reads
The Win Meter reads the Nuggets 66%, with a projected score of Los Angeles Lakers 112, Denver Nuggets 116. The rating gap is 15 points in favor of the Nuggets, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Nuggets on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 34 times in 100 games like this, the Lakers would win.
Recent form
The Lakers are 1-0 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -8.4. The Nuggets are 0-1 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -9.
The Lakers' best recent win was 127-105 at home against GSW.
The Lakers were beaten 131-108 at home by OKC not long ago.
The Nuggets were beaten 113-96 on the road by MIN not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Out: Cameron Carr (LAL), expected back Oct 25, 2026, Adou Thiero (LAL), expected back Oct 25, 2026, Jake LaRavia (LAL), expected back Oct 25, 2026, and Julian Strawther (DEN), expected back Nov 29, 2026.
Day to day or questionable: Walker Kessler (LAL), Spencer Jones (DEN), and Cameron Johnson (DEN). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Lakers lead 4-3, with the Lakers outscoring the Nuggets by an average of 1.1 points per game. The last meeting was DEN 125, LAL 127.