Keagan Smith details his best NBA player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.

Thursday night’s NBA schedule closes down with a Western Conference battle between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. Both of these rosters are positioned to comfortably qualify for the playoffs, and while Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets haven’t regained their stride since the All-Star break, Luka Doncic’s Lakers are winners of three straight games. Some of the league’s brightest stars are set to shine in this one, so put on your pajamas and settle in for this nightcap!

DraftKings Sportsbook lists Denver as a 4.5-point favorite at home with -192 odds to win on the Moneyline. The game total is set at 240.5 combined points.

Here are the top Lakers vs. Nuggets prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for this matchup.

Best Lakers vs. Nuggets player prop bets

Nikola Jokic 30+ points (+106)

The Nuggets have the best player in the world starting at center with Nikola Jokic, whose 28.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.3 assists are all team highs. Moreover, the latter two marks pace the entire NBA, and the big man is shooting an efficient 57.0% overall with a 40.1% three-point percentage on the year. I don’t have to explain just how talented the multi-time MVP is, so with that in mind, we’ll get right to the prop bet.

I like 30+ points for Jokic tonight given the combination of his typical scoring prowess and a positive matchup. Since the All-Star break, he’s posted four 30-pieces in his seven appearances. It just so happens that three of those came against strong defenses such as the Timberwolves, Celtics and Warriors as well. On the full season’s sample of 46 games, he’s scored 30 points on 19 occasions as well. That could be higher since there are some nights that see Jokic dish the ball to his teammates at a higher rate, but that’s not a bad hit rate for such a lofty line.

In particular, the matchup looks really good for the center’s scoring potential. The Lakers deploy Deandre “Not Clint Capela” Ayton as their starting five (if you know, you know), who is far from a strong defensive presence in the paint. Overall, Los Angeles ranks 20th in points in the paint allowed to opponents as well as 26th in opponent FG% and opponent 2P%. The Joker should feast.

Austin Reaves under 27.5 PTS + REB + AST (-105)

Just like last time I wrote props for a Lakers game, I’m fading Austin Reaves’ combo line tonight. It’s not that the guard isn’t talented — he certainly is and I like his game a lot. The issue is that his season has been a lesson in dichotomy, comprising a stellar first half and a less-impressive run of recent form.

Reaves began the 2025-26 campaign in scorching fashion, carrying much of the load for Los Angeles while LeBron James and Luka Doncic each missed significant time. Over his first 23 appearances, Reaves averaged a stellar 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds in a featured role, good for an average of 38.1 combined PTS + REB + AST (PRA). However, he suffered a calf strain on Christmas Day and missed over a month due to the injury before finally returning on February 3. Since that point, Doncic and James have been in the lineup most nights and generally play first and second fiddle while Reaves fills more of a supporting role. In 12 games since reentering the lineup, the guard has produced just 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists, averaging out to 26.1 combined PRA.

One of the biggest differences is simply the shot volume as Reaves takes roughly four fewer attempts per game since returning from injury than he did prior to his absence. He’s stayed under tonight’s line of 27.5 PRA in six consecutive games now with an average of 21.8 PRA over that sample. The very first game after the All-Star break was the only time in seven outings since the season resumed in which he went over this line. It’s safe to fade him.