Lakers vs Nuggets: Prediction, Game 4 odds, schedule, TV channel

LeBron James He won twice in a row NBA MVP Awards (2009-10, 2012-13). Niko Jokic He did it in 2021-22 and finished second this season.

Superstars will take center stage like LeBron Los Angeles Lakers Take on Joki Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. Game four is on Saturday in Los Angeles.

The Lakers have put together one of the most unexpected games in recent history. Los Angeles started 2-10, made several roster moves mid-season and qualified for the postseason by advancing through round play. Los Angeles just eliminated the defending champions Golden State Warriors in six matches.

[RELATED: Nuggets-Lakers Game 4 betting stats, trends]

The Lakers became the fourth NBA team to have games under . 500 to reach the Conference Finals since the conferences were formed after the 1970-71 season.

The top seeded Nuggets returned to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since losing to the Lakers in 2020 in the bubble in five games.

Joki comes off a historic performance averaging a triple-double against Phoenix Suns (34.5 points, 13.2 rebounds and 10.3 assists).

Jokić’s performance against the Suns was the second-highest scoring average while he averaged three triples in a playoff series behind him. Russell Westbrook37.4 points per game in the first round of the 2017 postseason.

Joki had three triple-doubles in his last four games against the Suns, joining Westbrook, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to have three triple-doubles in one series.

Los Angeles won all seven postseason series against Denver.

Let’s look at the series from a betting perspective, with cross odds FOX Pete An expert’s pick for the series.

LeBron and Lakers lose to the Nuggets in Game 2

The Denver Nuggets were able to bounce back in the second half and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-103.

Lakers at Nuggets, 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, ESPN (Series lead Nuggets 2-0)

point spread: Lakers -3.5 (The Lakers preferred to win by more than 3.5 points, otherwise the Nuggets cover)
money line: Lakers -167 The Candidates to Win ($10 bet to win a total of $15.99); Nuggets +120 candidates to win (bet $10 to win a total of $22)
Total Points Over/Under: 224.5 points scored by both teams combined

Denver Nuggets

den

+5.5

+170

Q 223

Los Angeles Lakers

LAL

-5.5

-250

u223

Series winner

Nuggets – 5000 (Bet $10 to win a total of $10.20)
Lakers +1400 (Bet $10 to win a total of $150)

Schedule and results for the series (all times 8:30 p.m. ET, TV ESPN):

Game 1: Nuggets 132, Lakers 126
Game 2: Nuggets 108, Lakers 103
Third game: Nuggets 119, Lakers 108
Game 4: Nuggets at Lakers, Monday
Game 5: Lakers at Nuggets, Wednesday *
Game 6: Nuggets at Lakers, Friday, ESPN *
Game 7: Lakers at Nuggets, Sunday, ESPN*

* = if required

Regular season results

Oct. 26: Nuggets 110, Lakers 99
Oct. 30: Lakers 121, Nuggets 103
December 16: Lakers 126, Nuggets 108
January 9: Nuggets 122, Lakers 109

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Choose with FOX sports betting analyzer Jason McIntyre:

As noted in this space earlier in the playoffs, this is a complete Nuggets team with no discernible weakness. They’ll have advantages all over the court, just like they did against Phoenix. The Jokitch /Anthony Davis The game is great, and it will be the first time in this playoffs that AD will be pitted against a real center. Jokić averages 30.7 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and 9.7 APG while shooting 54 from the field and 47 percent on three-pointers. The AD will pull away from the hoop, and they will hope to run a throw line like the Warriors sometimes did.

From a matching perspective, is the Lakers situation Jared Vanderbilt on Jamal Murray? Vanderbilt was good against Stephen Curry early on, but after making adjustments, he was barely playing and his minutes were gone Dennis Schroeder. Expect Aaron Gordon For a LeBron match, and when the king goes hunting, he probably is Michael Porter Jr. , who wouldn’t be able to handle LeBron on the block.

Two things work against the Lakers in this series: the schedule, where there is no extra day off, and the height, where the Nuggets have the second-best record in the NBA. Denver is 6-0 at home, winning by an average margin of 14.1 points. On the flip side, the Lakers are 7-0 in the postseason at home if you include play wins.

I picked the Warriors largely because I had never seen them lose to anyone in the West under Steve Kerr. Many will choose the Lakers because they haven’t seen Nikola Jokic make it to the NBA Finals. This is a strong-bodied Denver team that mixes up the youth – the freshman Christian Brown26 years old Jamal Murray And Bruce Brown – And his former LeBron teammates – Thomas BryantAnd Kentavius ​​Caldwell Pope And Jeff Green.

If you think the Lakers are going to steal one in Denver, you’ll want to bet the series price (+130) right now. If you think Denver is jumping out to a 2-0 lead, wait to beat the Lakers.

The Lakers have won both meetings in Los Angeles this season, but neither have come this calendar year. The role player question will be a big one for the Lakers. Sometimes this postseason, it has been Roy HashimuraSchroeder Austin Reeves or even Angelo Russell. Part of the beauty of their team is that all they need is for one of these guys to go and supplement LeBron and AD.

In the end, the Nuggets have won this series in what should be an epic series.

For player props, I would look for a Porter Jr. prop at home and take it down the road.

PICK: Nuggets to win the series in seven games (+300 Bet Boost at FOX Bet at the time of selection, bet $10 to win a total of $40)
Game Pick 1: Michael Porter, Jr. over 14.5 points (-133 At FOX Bet, bet $10 to win a total of $17.52) win (Porter gets 15 points)
Second game pick: Michael Porter, Jr. over 15.5 points (-105 At FOX Bet, bet $10 to win a total of $19.50) win (Porter got 13 points)
Game 3 pick: Michael Porter, Jr. under 15.5 points (-125 At FOX Bet, bet $10 to win a total of $18) win (Porter got 14 points).
Game 4 pick: Michael Porter Jr. under 15.5 points (-125 At FOX Bet, bet $10 to win a total of $18)

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