Lakers vs Nuggets Conference Final Odds Preview: Does Joker Make LeBron Goat or The GOAT?
Not LeBron's Fight, Rather Jokers, Who Will the Joke be On?
Top-Seeded Nuggets Favored to Win Series Opener
The Denver Nuggets look to avenge their 2020 Conference Finals loss to the Los Angeles Lakers this Tuesday night. As such, the Lakers vs Nuggets Conference Final odds favor Denver both for Game 1 and the series (-160). Denver opened as a five-point favorite and has been bet down to six as we tip off tonight. The talk will be about Nikola Jokic versus Anthony Davis though their guards are the X-Factors.
Lakers vs Nuggets 
Date & Time:
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Streaming: ESPN
The Lakers’ “Small Three” Will Be Critical
While Davis and LeBron James will be Los Angeles’s two best players on paper, the team’s trio of guards could have a bigger impact in determining the Lakers vs Nuggets conference final odds. D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Dennis Schroder will need to start the series strong for the Lakers to establish themselves. As the Lakers vs Nuggets matchup unfolds, the performance of these NBA players will play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the series.
Russell and Reaves are the starters and combine to average 31 points, 9.3 assists, and 4.2 3-point field goals per game (on 11.3 attempts). The latter has blossomed into arguably the team’s third-best player. The Lakers are 4-0 when he hits the 20-point mark and 5-0 when he shoots better than 45 percent.
“He’s always lived for these kinds of moments. Same in high school even if he wasn’t the go-to guy,” Spencer Reaves, Austin’s brother, told the Los Angeles Times. “And when he was, he was never afraid of any big shot, the moment. He’d do whatever he could to win. He’s always had that competitive nature where he doesn’t give a damn.”
Russell, on the other hand, struggled in his first few playoff games for the Lakers. But since his 31-point outing to eliminate Memphis, Russell scored 15 or more points in four of the Lakers’ games against the Warriors. Other than a 1-of-10 outing in Game 4, he’s been mostly accurate for the team.
And as for Schroder, his stats don’t do justice to the impact he’s had. The Lakers’ sixth man has been the team’s best defender from his position. Along with Jarred Vanderbilt, Schroder will need to neutralize Jamal Murray and Denver’s shooters to turn the NBA odds in favor of the Lakers.
Showtime for Murray and the Nuggets
Speaking of Murray, Denver’s star guard faces his toughest test so far these playoffs. Coming back from a knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 2021-22 season, Murray averaged 20 points and a career-best 6.2 assists per game in 65 regular season NBA games. But in 11 playoff games, he’s turned it up to 25.9 points.
But as difficult as it is to do, Murray may need to do more than that to beat the Lakers. In 2020, he still put up 25 points, 7.4 assists, and shot 51.8 percent from the field as his Nuggets lost in five games to the Lakers. Keep an eye on the NBA standings to see how Murray and the Nuggets measure up against the Lakers.
The Nuggets’ second-leading scorer is dealing with a non-COVID illness and is questionable for Game 1 versus the Lakers. He has been dealing with the illness since the Nuggets’ final game against Phoenix. Now, his status was downgraded though it did not seem to impact the Lakers vs Nuggets conference final odds.
Denver is still expected to defend home court and capture Game 1. The totals did get bet down to go under 222.5 points. The Nuggets are 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last five home games. The team has not lost at home and has won their last three games at the Ball Arena by double digits. Denver also won four of their last five home games versus the Lakers.
Murray may still suit up and play versus the Lakers. But if he is compromised, look for the likes of Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and even Reggie Jackson to step up in his stead. Stay ahead of the game and make informed betting decisions with NBA expert picks that analyze the performance of these key players and provide valuable insights for your wagers.
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