The Denver Nuggets are trying to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but they first have to get past the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals, which begin with Game 1 on Tuesday night. Denver is the top seed in the West and got past the Phoenix Suns in six games in their semifinal series that ended on Thursday.
Los Angeles has turned things around after a slow start to the season, advancing to the West finals as the seventh seed in the conference, beating Memphis and Golden State to get this far. The Lakers vs Nuggets odds are interesting for this matchup, so let’s take a closer look and try to help you with some winning NBA predictions for this contest.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Odds
Looking at the NBA odds today, Denver is the favorite for the series opener, giving six points on a point-spread bet. You’ll get -110 odds no matter which team you pick with the points.
The Lakers vs Nuggets odds on the moneyline will get you Denver at -240 or Los Angeles at +200. The over/under has been set at 222.5, with -110 odds available on both sides of that wager.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Information
Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets
Location of the game: Ball Arena, Denver, CO.
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 16. 8:30 PM ET.
How to watch: ESPN
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
Lakers Continue Amazing Turnaround
The Los Angeles Lakers started this season at 2-10, but they’re now among the final four teams in the postseason with a real shot at a title. The team chemistry on this squad is solid, which is impressive considering a number of the key pieces to the rotation just joined the Lakers in midseason trades.
The two main cogs for Los Angeles are forwards Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who led the team to the NBA title in 2020, beating Denver in the Western Conference finals on the way to the crown. Both would have ranked among the NBA player stats leaders in the regular season, but they both missed a number of games, so they didn’t qualify.
Still, both are back and healthy and will need to be at their best against Denver. Davis especially must be aggressive on both ends of the floor. When he’s at his best, the Lakers are a dominant team, but he has periods of playing a bit passive, and that hurts Los Angeles.
Nuggets Racking Up The Points
The Nuggets didn’t exactly light up scoreboards in the regular season, ranking 12th in the NBA team stats in points per game, but they’re the second-highest-scoring team in the postseason. Denver can turn up its defense as well, but when its offense is clicking, it can outgun any team it faces.
Any talk of the Denver Nuggets picks has to start with center Nikola Jokic, who has been fantastic in this postseason, averaging 30.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.7 assists. He’ll be the ringleader for the Denver offense, but he also has to be a presence in the paint defensively against Davis.
Guard Jamal Murray had 26 points in the series-clinching win over Phoenix and is averaging 25.9 points in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he’s listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game due to an illness, likely being a game-time decision for the Nuggets.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Picks
Tuesday begins an NBA schedule for playoffs that will see these two teams play every other day until this series concludes. That could be hard for the older Lakers duo of James and Davis, but they know that now is their time to play as hard as possible.
Murray’s absence could hurt if he can’t go, but the Lakers vs Nuggets odds suggest we should be going with Denver anyway, and that’s the pick we’re making.
- Take the Nuggets to win and cover in a potentially high-scoring Game 1.
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