The 2023 NBA playoffs will continue with Game 1 of the 2023 Western Conference finals on Tuesday night. This year we'll see a rematch of the 2020 West Finals held in the NBA bubble. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers bested Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in five games on their way to winning the NBA title that season. Both teams haven't quite managed to live up to their expectations in the seasons since then but have seemingly found their stride during this postseason. Jamal Murray (illness) is listed as questionable for Game 1.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at Ball Arena in Denver, where the Nuggets are a perfect 6-0 so far during the NBA playoffs 2023. Denver is favored by six points, and the over/under is 222.5 in the latest Nuggets vs. Lakers odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Before making any Lakers vs. Nuggets picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model entered the conference finals of the 2023 NBA playoffs a stunning 72-38 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,900. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Nuggets and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Nuggets vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Nuggets spread: Nuggets -6
- Lakers vs. Nuggets over/under: 222.5 points
- Lakers vs. Nuggets money line: Nuggets -250, Lakers +205
- LAL: The Lakers are 21-25-1 against the spread in road games
- DEN: The Nuggets are 30-16-1 against the spread in home games
- Lakers vs. Nuggets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Lakers can cover
The Lakers have excelled in the playoffs against quality competition. Los Angeles is 8-4 in the postseason, out-scoring the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors by 5.1 points per 100 possessions. While much of the Lakers' success can be traced to the league's best defense during the playoffs, Los Angeles is also playing well on offense. The Lakers are shooting 54.7% inside the arc in the postseason and averaging 24.7 assists with only 12.8 turnovers per game. Los Angeles has also found success in transition, averaging 16.3 fast break points per game, and the Lakers are also averaging more than 50 fast break points per contest.
James leads the way after a regular season in which he averaged 28.9 points per game, and Anthony Davis is a devastating two-way force, leading the 2023 NBA playoffs with 14.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game while also putting pressure on the rim offensively. The Lakers also led the NBA with 26.6 free throw attempts per game in the regular season, and Los Angeles plays with tremendous force and physicality. See which team to back here.
Why the Nuggets can cover
After losing two games in Phoenix to cede the momentum back to the Suns, the Nuggets managed to hunker down to win their Western Conference semifinals series in six games and looked like true title contenders in doing so. They won Game 5 at home by 16 points with Jokic delivering a 29-13-12 triple-double, and then smashed the Suns by 25 on the road in Game 6 to close out the series.
Jokic posted a 32-10-12 triple-double in that route, his third triple-double in his last four games, and the battle between Jokic and Davis should be crucial. However, Murray (questionable) will also need a big series on the perimeter, and he's been game for the challenge so far during the 2023 NBA playoffs. After averaging 20.0 points during the regular season, he's averaging 25.9 points during the postseason. See which team to back here.
How to make Nuggets vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 228 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Game 1 of Lakers vs. Nuggets in the NBA Western Conference finals 2023, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has has gone 72-38 on its top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
