Lakers vs. Nuggets: Prediction, Game 2 odds, schedule, how to watch

National Basketball Association

Updated Apr. 22, 2024 10:24 a.m. ET

The 2024 NBA playoffs feature a few intriguing first round matchups, but none is more anticipated than Nikola Jokić and the defending champion Denver Nuggets squaring off against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The two teams faced off last year in the Western Conference Finals with Denver sweeping LA.

While the Lakers are coming in as the seventh seed against the two-seeded Nuggets, you can never count out a squad featuring an all-time great in LeBron. The Lakers have shown flashes throughout the season as well, including winning the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament.

Denver, on the other hand, just missed out on the one-seed in the West partly thanks to an incredible Victor Wembamyama performance in the last week of the regular season. But will the Lakers have any answer for Jokić, who is poised to win his third MVP trophy this season?

In Game 1, the Lakers came out strong in the first, but the Nuggets battled back to almost even the score at halftime. A strong 3rd quarter helped Denver take control and they never gave it up from there.

Check out everything you need to know about this first round playoff matchup including schedule, scores and odds.

Lakers vs. Nuggets Playoff Schedule

Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Monday, April 22 at Denver (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 25 at Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Game 4: Saturday, April 27 at Los Angeles (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 5*: Monday, April 29 at Denver (TBA)
Game 6*: Thursday, May 2 at Los Angeles (TBA)
Game 7*: Saturday, May 4 at Denver (TBA)

*if necessary

Lakers vs. Nuggets Odds

Game 2 Odds

For Game 2, the Nuggets are favored to win. Check out the spread and total over/under below:

Series Odds

After Game 1, odds have shifted even further for the Nuggets winning the series.

Denver Nuggets: -750
Los Angeles Lakers: +490

Lakers vs. Nuggets Season Results

These two teams squared off three times this season with the Nuggets going 3-0. Below is a list of the results:

October 24, 2023: Nuggets 119, Lakers 107
February 8, 2024: Nuggets 114, Lakers 106
March 2, 2024: Nuggets 124, Lakers 114

Lakers vs. Nuggets Prediction

FOX Sports’s Skip Bayless thinks the Lakers could potentially pull off the upset in this Western Conference First Round matchup in six games. Check out more below: