The Lakers are looking to avoid a sweep and the Nuggets are looking to make history for their franchise tonight, May 22, in Game 4 of their Western Conference Finals series. Whether it be Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, or the supporting cast, the Lakers haven’t had the answer for Denver’s offense in this round of the playoffs. Although the Lakers are three-point favorites tonight, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Nuggets punch their ticket to their first NBA Finals tonight.
With so much on the line, full attention will be on both teams’ stars. Denver’s stars have owned those matchups, and there has been no evidence that things will change. If you’re looking to get in on the action tonight, check out some of what we’ve identified as the Best NBA Player Prop Bets on the major online sportsbooks for tonight’s win-or-go-home game.
Best NBA Player Prop Bets for Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 4
Murray, somehow, has overshadowed the brilliance of Jokic to this point, and they may be in line to continue tonight. As for the Lakers, they’ll need LeBron James to turn the clock back tonight as they look to take it one game at a time in an attempt to make history of their own and become the first team to overcome a 3-0 deficit.
Jamal Murray to Score Over 30 Points (+140 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Murray’s scoring outputs in three games so far are 31, 37, and 37. He has done so with at least four three-pointers a contest and at least 11 made field goals. He has it going on all three levels, and thanks to the Lakers’ attention to Jokic, Murray’s looks are remaining the same. He has proven to get hot in a flash, so even if the Lakers slow him down momentarily, all it takes is a quarter for him to get going and cover this wager.
With Jarred Vanderbilt rendered essentially unplayable, the Lakers don’t have any defenders to present a real challenge to Murray. That’s one of the biggest reasons we like his odds to cover this wager.
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LeBron James to Score the Game’s First Basket (+500 on Caesars Sportsbook)
LeBron James hasn’t had a dominant game all series long as he has looked to be a playmaker for the bulk of the series. Now that he is eyeing a sweep, it’s likely he looks to be a lot more aggressive in this one right from the jump. The Lakers have been battling from behind for the bulk of the series. James is well aware of that reality, and given his role on the team, he is the most likely option to try and reverse it.
Anthony Davis has an opening win tip percentage of 57%, compared to 49% for Jokic. Additionally, Jokic has only won three of his last nine opening tip jump balls in the playoffs. The odds of the Lakers getting the ball first are pretty favorable. When combined with the scenario the Lakers face, we like James’ odds of scoring the first basket.
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Austin Reaves to Score Over 20 Points (+145 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Austin Reaves has been a bright spot for the Lakers all postseason and has most likely played himself in a major payday in the offseason. In three games against the Nuggets, he has scored at least 22 points in each outing on at least 50% from the field and three-point range. Although Davis and James haven’t been dominant, they have created efficient looks for Reaves due to the attention they are still drawing.
The Nuggets are well aware of what’s at stake and will be expecting a more aggressive James and Davis. Given Reaves’ hot hand, the Lakers’ stars are sure to search out when in a jam. Reaves is on the court for at least 39 minutes a game, so he’ll have ample time to get up shots and cover this wager.
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Score Over 15 Points (+300 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is another Nugget who has benefited tremendously from the vast amount of attention Jokic has drawn from the Lakers. He averaged 10 points this season, but in three games against Los Angeles, he is averaging 15 points per game. He has scored as many as 21 points and 17 points this series.
Given the circumstances for the Lakers, they’ll focus even more on the Nugget’s stars to prevent them from beating them yet again. That creates ample opportunities for Caldwell-Pope, which he has been taking full advantage of as of late.
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Article contributed by David Fletcher.
