The Lakers are set to return to Denver on a revenge tour, but oddsmakers still expect it to be a Nikola Jokic show.
DraftKings oddsmakers have the Lakers as heavy underdogs at +250 in the first round of their NBA playoff series against the Nuggets.
That’s a big number, but it still shows a lot of respect for LeBron James’ seventh-seeded Lakers, who will face the seemingly impregnable Nuggets, who are widely expected to reach the NBA Finals again.
But has this year’s Lakers team actually improved enough to upset Jokic and the second-seeded Nuggets (-250)?
Last season’s Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Nuggets (No. 1 vs. No. 7 series) opened at just +120/-145, so expectations for Los Angeles this year are a little low.
The Lakers initially opened at +300 to win the next series, but it appears some money went to the underdogs to lower the line to +250 on DraftKings.
Bet365 currently offers the highest series price for the Lakers at +310. This is considerably better than the +250 odds seen elsewhere.
Lakers vs. Nuggets series odds
- Lakers (+310, DraftKings) vs. Nuggets (-250)
Los Angeles nearly blew a 20-point deficit against the Pelicans on Tuesday night, but ultimately emerged victorious to set up a matchup against the Nuggets.
The Lakers were swept in last season’s Western Conference Finals, with the Nuggets shutting them out in all four games.
This storyline remained consistent during the regular season, when Denver won all three games against the Lakers.
Denver has won eight straight against the Lakers, including the postseason.
If the Lakers want to have a chance in this first round series, it’s going to be down to Anthony Davis, who has a -39 combined plus/minus against the Nuggets this season.
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Davis said he and James took the Nuggets’ trash talk after the series personally.
“Okay, everyone wins.” davis said. “I think Bron and I have had some conversations. I can’t wait.”
Game 1 will be played in prime time on Saturday night at 8:30 pm ET, with the Lakers trailing by a consensus seven points.
