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Edgar Chaput
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Game 1 Prediction, NBA Odds
It is a Western Conference Finals few saw coming. The surprise of seeing these two sides has as much to do with the Nuggets’ dubious postseason history as it does with the Lakers being patently mediocre midway through the season.
In the second round, L.A. ensured that 2023 would see the crowning of a new NBA champion by eliminating the Golden State Warriors 4-2. Denver also took care of business by the same set of games, 4-2. In their case, it was in the process of defeating the Phoenix Suns, a club many thought would be the 2023 champions.
With respect to Tuesday’s Game 1, decent chalk is down for the host Nuggets. They sit as -6.0 favourites on the NBA odds, with the total set at 222.5.
Lakers vs. Nuggets NBA Playoffs Betting Odds
Los Angeles and Denver clashed a quartet of times during the regular season. The hosts claimed victory in each one. Furthermore, the victor always covered the spread. Laker spreads were slimmer than those that favoured Denver, but all were dealt with. The over connected thrice, with the under earning the spoils in the third of the four matchups.
The current Lakers squad has several distinctions with the version that won it all in the 2020 Orlando bubble, but key figures remain. Most notably, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Interestingly, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was on that roster and is now a Nugget. If anyone knows how to get past a tough opponent in a conference final, it’s King James. He’s dealt with upstart Pacers teams, a Hawks squad, the Raptors, Celtics squads, and, wouldn’t you know it, the Nuggets in 2020. As tremendous as he’s been in some NBA Finals, one could argue his greatest playoff performance have come at this stage.
As for Denver, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic get to make up for the failings of 2020 when the Lakers vanquished them 4-1. The Nuggets are a stark contrast to the Lakers as far as playoff success is concerned. L.A. has 17 NBA Finals trophies and 19 conference titles. Denver has zero in both columns. Since 2020 the Joker has won two MVP awards. Furthermore, this time the games won’t be played in a sequestered, near-empty arena and the Nuggets have home-court advantage.
Los Angeles Lakers
It’s been a heck of a ride so far. The ride itself began shortly after the trade deadline when Darvin Ham got his players playing much more fundamentally sound basketball.
There are no more excuses to belittle Los Angeles. It was passable last autumn and this past winter, but the more the team won, the more people had to take notice. They don’t look like a fragile team. LeBron isn’t scoring “empty points” to chase records. Anthony Davis isn’t a frustratingly inconsistent big man. D’Angelo Russell, the prodigal first-round pick, has returned to make something of himself. Rui Hachimura has found a place. Dennis Schroder is having a strong season. Austin Reaves has earned status as a Lake Show favourite. This is a serious team that can win a championship. With LeBron on their side, anything is possible.
Denver Nuggets
Given everything discussed in the section above, one assumes that most of the pressure rests on Denver’s shoulders. In some respects that’s true.
The Nuggets, whether this core group or historically, have never won this round of playoff basketball. As the number one seed expectations are understandably high. Through two rounds, they’ve made good on the promise of a deep-postseason run. Minnesota was taken care of with relative ease before Phoenix’s two-headed dragon of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant was nullified. Some franchises seem cursed to suffer. By historical statistics alone, Denver feels like one such franchise. But with Jokic, Murray, Michael Porter Jr., the exciting Aaron Gordon, excellent sub Bruce Brown, and wily veteran Jeff Green, this is as good a season as any to finally make it to the promised land.
LAL
DEN