The Conference Finals round of the NBA playoffs is finally here. The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets will kick off Game 1 of their series on Tuesday, May 16, in a rematch of the 2020 Western Conference Finals.
There are plenty of matchups to keep your eye on for wager opportunities, none bigger than the Nikola Jokic vs. Anthony Davis matchup. Before the series begins tonight, be sure to check out some of the best NBA player prop bets available on the online sports betting market. Here are our favorite wagers for tonight’s game.
Best NBA Player Prop Bets for Lakers vs. Nuggets
The late-season trades of the Lakers were mostly overlooked at the time, but they have paid off significantly. Now, only the Nuggets stand between them and another NBA Finals appearance. Davis and LeBron James have seen two of the better defenses so far in the playoffs and still found a way to get the job done. The Nuggets don’t present the defensive challenges the Grizzlies and Warriors did, which should aid in the Lakers’ stars upping their level of play even more.
Jokic appeared unstoppable against the Phoenix Suns in the last round, but he received plenty of help from his teammates. If Denver wants to remain in the haunt, they’ll need the same level of productivity from the supporting cast. Given the matchups in this one, the help is more likely to come from someone other than Jamal Murray.
LeBron James Over 30 Points (+210 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
In the three games James played against the Nuggets this season, he averaged 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists with a fluctuating roster. He also didn’t shoot well from three-point range in any of those games and still scored 26 and 30 points in two of the three. The Nuggets defended James with Aaron Gordon, which seems to be a favorable matchup for James.
With a now balanced roster and more of an understanding of what the Lakers need from him, James is in a much better position to take full advantage of his matchup with Gordon. The James and Davis pick-and-roll with Jokic in the action was highly effective this season, usually ending with a layup for James. With a proven go-to offense and no star defenders to slow him down, James is in line for a big series.
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Anthony Davis Over 25 Points (+135 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Historically, Davis has had his way with Jokic. He averages 25 points and eight rebounds against the Nuggets’ big man on 53% shooting from the field, including a 50-point explosion. Additionally, in the 2020 Western Conference Finals, Davis averaged 31 points on 54% shooting from the field, scoring more than 25 points in every game. Given Davis’ efficiency against the Nuggets this season, the odds don’t seem favorable for the Nuggets to hinder his offensive output, especially with the Lakers making a concerted effort to get him the ball.
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Bruce Brown Over 11 Points (+100 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
Bruce Brown has taken full advantage of the attention Jokic and Murray draw defensively. His floater in the painted area and ability to find the open spot in the defense from the foul line area and below serves him well, especially in this matchup. In four games against the Lakers this season, he averaged 18 points on 52% shooting.
After the performance Jokic put on in the previous round, it’s likely he’ll see special attention, which creates additional opportunities for Brown that he is capitalizing on at the moment. In the last two games against Phoenix, he shot the ball a total of 24 times for 38 points. He is in rhythm finding his spot in the offense and making opposing defenses pay for leaving him to help on Jokic. Look for him to pick up where he left off in the last round.
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Jamal Murray Under 24.5 Points (-113 on Caesars Sportsbook)
Murray is a capable scorer and has had a good playoff run so far. However, he averaged 22 points on 44% shooting from the field against the Lakers this season. Those aren’t bad numbers, but they aren’t lights out either. Additionally, Jared Vanderbilt was not a Laker in either of the matchups against the Nuggets this season.
He is sure to guard Murray on the perimeter, which should make things even more challenging for Murray. Vanderbilt joined via trade later in the season and has been as defensively stout as anyone in the league. Against the Warriors, he held Curry to an average of 26 points on 43% shooting. That’s great considering Curry averaged 29 points on 49% shooting from the field in the regular season.
Vanderbilt’s defense should make Murray’s life hard enough to keep him from topping the 25-point mark and covering this wager.
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Article contributed by David Fletcher.
