The Denver Nuggets try to earn their first trip to the NBA Finals when they face the host Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Monday night. Denver took a 3-0 lead in the series with a road win over the Lakers on Saturday night, putting it one win away from advancing to the championship series.
Los Angeles has been close in every game of this series in the fourth quarter but hasn’t been able to pull out a victory, putting it on the brink of elimination. Take a look at our in-depth preview of this contest to help you with your Nuggets vs Lakers betting.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Odds
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Information
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers
Location of the game: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date & Time: Monday, May 22, 2023, 8:30 PM ET
How to watch: ESPN
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Recent Scores
Denver’s win on Saturday night was the first time the road team had won when these two teams have matched up this season.
In the regular season, the Nuggets and Lakers split four games, with the host team winning every time, and Denver then won the first two games of this series at Ball Arena.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Analysis
Nuggets Need To Take Care Of Business
The Denver Nuggets schedule could be cleared for the rest of the week with a victory in this game, but they have to focus on getting that win if they’re going to actually get it. Los Angeles will come out desperate in this one, so the Nuggets have to be at their best if they want to end this series.
Guard Jamal Murray was red hot in the first half of Game 3, scoring 30 of his 37 points before the break. Murray cooled off in the second half, but he must continue to be aggressive looking for his shot in Game 4.
Center Nikola Jokic had some trouble with fouls in Game 3, but he was big down the stretch of the contest, when the Nuggets broke it open. He had 24 points and eight assists in the game, snapping a string of four consecutive triple-doubles.
Lakers Must Get More Contributions
The Los Angeles Lakers roster was remade at the trade deadline, and the team has been getting contributions from multiple players throughout its playoff run. These players – like Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell – aren’t at the top of the NBA player stats, but they can come up with big scoring games when they get hot.
The Lakers are going to need that if they’re going to keep their season alive in Game 4. The Nuggets have been able to score at will against the Los Angeles defense, which had been near the top of the NBA team stats in the postseason heading into the series.
Still, the Lakers have to be led by their two superstars – LeBron James and Anthony Davis – if they have any chance of winning this game. James had 23 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in Game 3, while Davis contributed 28 points and 18 rebounds, and both must be as good if not better in Monday’s contest.
Updates
The Lakers may get a lift on the interior with center Mo Bamba possibly being available after he’d missed nine straight NBA games with a sore left ankle.
The NBA schedule of playing a game every other day in the series may be wearing down the Los Angeles big men, so getting another big body back could be helpful against Jokic.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
Moneyline: If you’re making your NBA predictions on the moneyline, you can get Los Angeles at -150 while Denver is listed at +130.
Spread: As you’re doing your Nuggets vs Lakers betting, you’ll find Los Angeles as the favorite for Game 4, as it is giving three points on a point-spread bet. The NBA odds are listed at -110 for either team on that bet.
Over/Under Total: The over/under has been set at 224.5 points, with -110 odds available for either side of that wager.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Prediction
The early portion of the game is going to be the most important, as the Nuggets could take the heart out of the Lakers’ effort with a fast start.
We like going with the favorite when you’re doing your Nuggets vs Lakers betting, however, as we like Los Angeles – and James in particular – to come out fast and force this series back to Denver for a Game 5.
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