Lakers Face Uphill Battle in Denver for Game One
Lakers vs Nuggets Odds Favor Denver at Home
The second-seeded Nuggets are favored at home. The Lakers vs Nuggets odds currently have Denver at -6.5 with a total of 223.5. The history between these NBA teams includes multiple Western Conference Finals matchups. We expect LeBron James and his squad to come out firing. They will try to snag Game 1 on the road against the rock-solid defending champion Denver Nuggets.
Denver is coming off an NBA season where they played things relatively cool, still got the second seed, and are entering the playoffs healthy and inspired to make a run.
The Lakers who ended the season on a 7-3 run, handled their business in the Play-In Tournament, and now are set up for an opportunity at redemption from their disappointing playoff exit against Denver last year.
With these Lakers vs Nuggets odds, we look at NBA leaders, and NBA playoff standings and see where we can find value in the NBA betting lines.
Lakers vs Nuggets 
Records: Los Angeles Lakers (48-35), Denver Nuggets (57-25)
Day, Time:
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Streaming: ABC
Nuggets Smooth Sailing
The Nuggets have won six of their last eight games and have won eight straight against the Lakers. They are coming into Saturday’s game with the confidence of a champion, and the experience to back it up.
The Nuggets star Nikola Jokic looks to be on his way to winning his third Most Valuable Player Award in four years. Jamal Murray has gotten five games under his belt since his most recent NBA injury and is looking ready to make some noise with his big-man partner.
Nikola Jokic has averaged 28.4 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 10.6 assists in his last seven games against the Lakers (three this season and four from last year’s playoff matchup). Those numbers are higher than his season averages all across the board. Jokic has also gone over on his points/rebounds prop in nine of his last ten games.
Murray on the other hand has notched below his assist average in each game since his return but had eleven assists in his last two games against the Lakers. The Lakers give up the fourth most assists to point guards in the league this season, meaning the assist over for Murray could have value, especially if the line reflects his recent play.
Jamal Murray believes that the duo of himself and Nikola Jokic is better than the pairs of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving
“I think we’re the best duo. I think they’re in a bigger market and people have… pic.twitter.com/4mTcl4Yd1z
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 15, 2024
Lakers Waking Up in Time
The Lakers are starting to put things together and their timing couldn’t be any better. They have now won 12 of their last 15 NBA games, and are coming off an exciting win on the road against New Orleans on Tuesday night.
LeBron James (23 points, nine rebounds, nine assists) and Anthony Davis (20 points, 15 rebounds) put on a show, leading their team to a 110-106 victory. The game wasn’t easy. They had a comfortable lead in the third quarter but watched it evaporate as a dominant Zion Williamson (40 points, 11 rebounds) willed the Pelicans back.
However, the Lakers capitalized with Williamson exiting due to a leg injury in the final minutes. James hit a clutch jumper, AD threw down a monster dunk, and D’Angelo Russell drained a key three-pointer to seal the deal.
A key player to look at in this series will be Anthony Davis. He will likely match up against Denver’s MVP Nikola Jokic and must put up big numbers. The perennial All-Star will be tested on both ends of the floor. He averaged 24.7 points, and 12.0 rebounds in his last seven games against the Nuggets.
In the Lakers’ last seven matchups against the Nuggets, Davis averaged 2.86 blocks per game (Davis averages 2.3 on the season). He went over on his blocks prop once in his last five games, so check out his blocks line for some possible value on the over.
Most blocks on Jokic all-time:
19 — Anthony Davis (23 GP)
16 — Rudy Gobert (24 GP)
9 — Ivica Zubac (22 GP)
8 — Victor Wembanyama (4 GP) pic.twitter.com/PckqQVfANl— StatMamba (@StatMamba) April 13, 2024
Nuggets Win, Lakers Cover?
We like the Nuggets to win the series easily. But giving over six points to James in a playoff game is scary. That being said, the Nuggets beat the Lakers by eight or more in each of their matchups this year, and have eight straight wins against LA.
In last year’s Western Conference Finals, the Lakers covered each of their games as underdogs and the Nuggets covered each of theirs as underdogs. Only one of the four games was decided by a margin of more than six.
For NBA betting news, NBA rankings, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
