It’s not the battle of Los Angeles that many around the league expected, but here we are.
After making NBA history with consecutive comebacks from 3-1 series deficits, the Denver Nuggets take the postseason’s most unlikely run into a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.
And no, despite Nuggets head coach Michael Malone’s tongue-in-cheek plea to start the series down 3-1, the Western Conference finals gives Denver a clean slate for more bubble magic. The Nuggets probably need it against LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the heavily favored Lakers.
What’s in store with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line? Our experts are unveiling their predictions for Lakers-Nuggets.
Note: Experts’ picks for the Eastern Conference finals were posted before Game 1 between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.
MORE: What to expect from these unexpected West finals
Jerry Bembry: Lakers in 6
Tim Bontemps: Lakers in 6
Nick DePaula: Lakers in 6
Nick Friedell: Lakers in 5
Kirk Goldsberry: Lakers in 7
Andrew Han: Lakers in 6
Chris Herring: Lakers in 7
Andrew Lopez: Lakers in 6
Zach Lowe: Lakers in 6
Tim MacMahon: Lakers in 6
Bobby Marks: Nuggets in 7
Dave McMenamin: Lakers in 6
Kevin Pelton: Lakers in 5
Jorge Sedano: Lakers in 6
Ramona Shelburne: Lakers in 6
Andre’ Snellings: Lakers in 6
Marc J. Spears: Lakers in 7
Jesse Washington: Lakers in 6
Eric Woodyard: Lakers in 6
Royce Young: Lakers in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers in 6
Final tally: Lakers (20), Nuggets (1).
Jerry Bembry: Heat in 7
Tim Bontemps: Celtics in 6
Nick DePaula: Heat in 6
Nick Friedell: Celtics in 6
Kirk Goldsberry: Heat in 6
Andrew Han: Heat in 6
Chris Herring: Celtics in 7
Andrew Lopez: Heat in 7
Zach Lowe: Celtics in 7
Tim MacMahon: Heat in 7
Bobby Marks: Heat in 6
Dave McMenamin: Celtics in 7
Kevin Pelton: Celtics in 7
Omar Raja: Heat in 7
Jorge Sedano: Heat in 7
Ramona Shelburne: Heat in 6
Andre’ Snellings: Celtics in 7
Marc J. Spears: Celtics in 6
Jesse Washington: Celtics in 7
Eric Woodyard: Heat in 7
Royce Young: Celtics in 7
Ohm Youngmisuk: Celtics in 7
Final tally: Celtics (11), Heat (11).
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