NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 4 – Odds, Prediction, & Start Time

After a thrilling first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs, the conference finals could both end in sweeps. Eight-seed Miami absolutely throttled Boston in Game 3 on Sunday night. The Heat are one win away from becoming the second-ever 8-seed to reach the NBA Finals. In the West, Denver appears poised to reach the Finals for the first time in franchise history. A win in Game 4 at Los Angeles stands in their way. After an incredible run as a 7-seed that saw them unbeaten at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers were overpowered in a 119-108 Nuggets victory in Game 3.

One win away from the Finals, the Nuggets have a chance to make more history Monday night. First, Denver has never swept a playoff series. In addition, a LeBron James-led team has never been swept before the Finals. Now, we’re taking a look at the possibility of both in Nuggets vs. Lakers odds for Game 4.

After sitting at 2-2 in the second round against Phoenix, Denver has won five-straight games. Nikola Jokic’s triple-double streak ended at five, but Game 3 showed that the Nuggets have two big stars. Jamal Murray, who missed the last two postseasons due to injury, scored 37 points on a team-high 42 minutes in the 119-108 win. Murray’s come a long way from the ACL tear that he originally thought would be the end of his career in Denver.

After leading by 12 after the first quarter, the Lakers closed the gap and actually led by one with 7:48 remaining. But in a crucial three-minute stretch, Denver went on an 13-0 run. The games have been played similarly: the Nuggets take a big lead, the Lakers respond, but Denver makes big plays to re-take control. It has put Denver on the brink of their first NBA Finals.

The Lakers had the Western Conference’s best record since the All-Star break in late February. They have played hard nightly for three months now, but it appears they have reached a mountain they cannot surpass. Anthony Davis and LeBron James had big efforts–28 points, 18 rebounds and 23 points, 12 assists, respectively. Austin Reaves also added 23 points in Game 3. It adds up to the Lakers perhaps having more building blocks in the future for James and Davis.

The Lakers’ problem is they can’t double-team both Jokic and Murray and get away with it. When having open looks, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, and Michael Porter Jr. are shooting around 50% on 3-pointers in this series.

The Lakers are on the wrong side of history here. Not only are NBA teams 0-149 when down 3-0 in a series, but 91 of those teams didn’t even win Game 4.

Nonetheless, the Lakers are a 3-point favorite going into this game. Given that nearly two-thirds of teams in Denver’s position finish off the sweep, and the Nuggets are getting points on top of that, there’s huge value on the side of the Nuggets.

Prediction: Nuggets 114-110