Lakers-Nuggets Game 3 betting preview: Denver has no margin for error

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It's time for the Denver Nuggets to put up or shut up.

Down 0-2 in the Western Conference finals to the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver's margin for error is razor-thin at best. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 playoff deficit. Will the Nuggets make this a series Tuesday, or will the top-seeded Lakers cement their advantage?

Here's all the betting info you need for Game 3.

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5, 214)

This is a pretty standard spread and total considering where the previous numbers have closed. The Lakers and the over cashed in Game 1, while the Nuggets and the under hit in Game 2.

The case for the Lakers

The Lakers won Game 2 in dramatic fashion 105-103, but they spurned bettors. It was the first time in five games without a cover for L.A., which owns the best net rating among playoff teams still left standing.

And that victory came despite committing 23 turnovers Saturday. The Lakers' 3-point shooting was also so-so (36%), while the supporting cast was nowhere to be found. LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 57 points, but no other Laker had more than 11.

If L.A. can get a third player going offensively, the Nuggets should get a head start on packing their bags.

The case for the Nuggets

Denver nearly tied things up 1-1 before Davis' game-winning three at the buzzer, so it's not as though the Nuggets are completely out of it. If anything, you have to like how they cleaned up a few areas defensively - they allowed just five points in transition and 34 points in the paint in Game 2.

Also, we likely haven't seen them at their peak in this series yet. Denver was sloppy in Game 2, committing 19 turnovers and converting just 33% of its attempts from beyond the arc.

If you want to watch a team throw the kitchen sink at the West's top seed, Tuesday night's game should be appointment television.

Notable betting trends

• The Nuggets are 4-0 ATS the last four on one day's rest
• The Nuggets are 7-1-1 ATS after allowing 100 or more points
• The Nuggets are 5-1 ATS the last six after an outright loss
• The Nuggets are 7-0-2 to the under the last nine on one day's rest
• The Nuggets are 7-1-2 to the under the last 10 overall
• The Nuggets are 6-1-2 to the under the last nine as a playoff 'dog
• The Lakers are 7-1 ATS the last eight on one day's rest
• The Lakers are 5-1 ATS the last six as playoff favorites
• The Lakers are 5-1 to the under the last six after an outright win
• The Lakers are 20-7 to the under the last 27 Tuesday games

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.