The Western Conference finals will be a rematch from the thrilling 2020 one that took place in the 'bubble' with the Denver Nuggets taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, we have home courts in play, including two imposing ones with each team unbeaten at home in the playoffs.
The Lakers, once on the outside looking of the playoffs all together have escaped the NBA Play-In Tournament and are now four wins away from the NBA Finals. However, they must now face two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and the top seed in the West Nuggets.
The Nuggets rolled past the Suns in the second round and look like the most complete roster in the league, but the Lakers have Anthony Davis at his best and the all-time points leader in LeBron James.
This is set to be an epic matchup that will be decided by Jokic's excellence and Davis' rim protection, two of the best big men the sports has ever seen. Let's get to the odds and see who will go to the NBA Finals.
Lakers vs. Nuggets series odds
Lakers vs. Nuggets correct score (Exact outcome odds)
Lakers vs. Nuggets schedule
- Game 1: Lakers @ Nuggets, Tuesday, May 16, 8:30 p.m. ET, TV Channel ESPN
- Game 2: Lakers @ Nuggets, Thursday, May 18, 8:30 p.m. ET, TV Channel ESPN
- Game 3: Nuggets @ Lakers, Saturday, May18, 8:30 p.m. ET, TV Channel ABC
- Game 4: Nuggets @ Lakers, Monday, May 20, 8:30 PM ET, TV Channel ESPN
- Game 5: Lakers @ Nuggets, Wednesday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, TV Channel ESPN
- Game 6: Nuggets @ Lakers, Friday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, TV Channel ESPN
- Game 7: Lakers @ Nuggets, Sunday, May 26, 8:30 PM ET, TV Channel ESPN
Lakers vs. Nuggets series prediction and pick
This matchup has high level playmakers on both sides, but the inflection point comes down to if the Lakers can continue to get timely contributions from its role players and match the Nuggets potent offense.
Los Angeles tipped the Grizzlies series in Game 1 of that series when Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura took over in the fourth quarter to propel the team to an upset win, stealing home court and never looking back.
The team had a similar formula against the Warriors, rallying in Game 4 to win at home behind 15 Lonnie Walker points.
Davis is the best defender in the league at the moment, but will have to deal with the top offensive big man in the league in Nikola Jokic, who makes offense look easy for himself and sets up his teammates for high percentage looks. While LeBron James has had moments of excellence, he still has been handling a massive workload despite a mid-season foot injury and the Lakers offense has been right around the postseason average, ninth in points per 100 possessions.
The Lakers offense has thrived at getting to the line and suffocating the opponent on defense, the top defense in terms of points allowed per 100 possessions while posting a top four free throw rate.
However, I see too many counters for Jokic and the Nuggets down the bench. The Nuggets are fifth in postseason defense, and have bodies to check James like Aaron Gordon. Down the line, I trust the Nuggets floor spacers to convert open looks, tops in regular season effective field goal percentage and third in that metric in the postseason.
The better team is the Nuggets. Jokic can offset Davis' rim protection and the Nuggets have the shooters to outpace the Lakers prodding offense. Further, with home court, I expect Denver to maintain it's league best record at Ball Arena, 34-7 in regular season and 6-0 in the postseason en route to knocking off Los Angeles.
It's the Nuggets year to win it all, bet accordingly.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.