All Lakers Expert Predictions For Critical Western Conference Finals Game 3

Los Angeles finds itself in a borderline must-win situation.

The Western Conference Finals move to LA tonight. Though scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. PT, the matchup is actually still seconds away from truly beginning (the broadcast, however, began promptly at 5:30 p.m. on ABC). Your Los Angeles Lakers will host the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena.

1. D'Angelo Russell will go off.

The Lakers' starting point guard is due after too inefficient scoring games in Denver. Role players typically perform better at home than they do on the road, particularly in the postseason in front of their own fervent crowds, and it's time for D-Lo to deliver.

2. Anthony Davis will outscore Nikola Jokic.

I'm not going to make any such promises about their rebounding or assists, given that Jokic is averaging a triple-double in these playoffs. Davis suffered through his "Every Other Davis" scoring letdown game in Game 2, after a 40-point Game 1 outburst. It's time for the pendulum to swing in the other direction at home.

3. Los Angeles will beat its projected spread.

The Lakers are expected to win tonight, with their over/under set at 5.5 points. Their backs are essentially against the wall, as no team in the history of the NBA has come back to win a series when down trailing 0-3.

LA's season is essentially on the line here. Falling into an 0-3 hole against this good a Denver Nuggets team would represent a likely death knell on the series for the Lakers.

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