Nuggets sweep LeBron’s Lakers? Denver Nuggets @ LA Lakers Game 4 betting tips, odds, predictions

This year’s NBA playoffs have delivered more ups and downs than a toaster on a roller coaster.

Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets head into Tuesday’s Game 4 up 3-0 against LeBron James, Anthony Davis and their LA Lakers, looking to make the franchise’s first ever trip to the NBA Finals.

And history is definitely against LeBron and co. to turn the seven-game series around.

In the 149 times in NBA history a team has gone down 0-3 in a series, only three have even forced a game 7, while precisely zero teams have won the series.

So with that against them, do James, Davis and the Lakers have a better than LeBron’s hairline chance (aka sketchy - s/o NBA Straya) in Game 4?

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Heading into Game 4 the Lakers are favourites to finally get on the board in these Western Conference Finals. LA has actually covered the line in seven of their last eight games that came after a loss and won nine of its last 10 at home in Los Angeles.

The problem is that, down 3-0, the Laker as a franchise are 0-8 in Game 4s across their history.

For his part, LeBron James is 2-1 in Game 4s of a series that they’re down 3-0, with the lone win coming in the 2017 NBA Finals.

Obviously for the Lakers to give themselves a chance at winning, their superstar leader will have to step up. LeBron, for his part, averages 33.5 points in elimination games throughout his career.

James’ running mate Davis has continued his up and down playoffs, alternating massive offensive games with ones where he’s content to be a defensive menace. He’s still averaging a tick of 45 combined points, rebounds and assist this series, however.

Jamal Murray has carried the offensive load for the Nuggets this series, averaging 35 points in the three games to date: if he goes big again, that could be the Denver killshot.

Nikola Jokic is the obvious key to Denver pulling off its first-ever playoff sweep in franchise history: the big Serbian had a triple double in four straight games before Game 3, and the Nuggets won all four.

WHO WINS?

Since the start of 2020, the Lakers are 11-9 against the Nuggets: in such a precarious spot, it will all depend on human nature as to what the Lakers show down 3-0. Will it be pride and not wanting LeBron to trade them all during the offseason? Or does the team roll over?

Considering the Lakers home record and the pride of LeBron, LA should snag a defensive-minded win to avoid a sweep.