Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been out of the playoffs for most of the season. Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers have been under .500 since their first game of 2013. On Monday night, they get a chance to change that with a contest against the Denver Nuggets.

L.A. enters the road game at 28-29, having won three in a row. Now, they will try to avoid losing the season series to the team they beat in last season’s playoffs.

The Lakers and the Nuggets will meet for a 9 p.m. eastern time start. Viewers can watch a live stream online by purchasing NBA League Pass Broadband.

Denver is currently the fifth seed in the West at 35-22. Like Los Angeles, they have split their last 10 games.

Even though the Lakers have been on a roll in recent weeks, L.A. might have their work cut out for them. Other than the San Antonio Spurs, the Nuggets are the best home team in the NBA. They are 23-3 at the Pepsi Center, compared to their road record of 12-19.

Kobe Bryant scored 40 points in the Dec. 26 meeting between the two teams. Still, Denver’s offense was too much for L.A., and the Nuggets pulled out a 12-point victory.

The two clubs play put up very similar numbers. Both are near the top of the league in points scored, but are in the bottom third of points allowed per game. The Lakers and Nuggets are also good rebounding teams. Dwight Howard and Kenneth Faried are two of the best players at grabbing boards.

The Lakers may be playing well, but they’re expected to pick up their 30th loss of the season. The Nuggets are 7.5-point favorites at most Las Vegas sportsbooks.

Prediction: Denver 120, Los Angeles 110

NBA