The top-seeded Nuggets look to improve to 7-0 at Ball Arena this postseason when the surging Lakers come to town for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Denver is hoping to make amends for its 4-1 series loss to Los Angeles in the 2020 WCF, and given how efficient do-everything center Nikola Jokic's playing at the moment, Michael Malone's crew is warranted as the betting favorites. However, it's not wise to count out the red-hot Lakers, who've gone 26-13 since the All-Star break and sport the Association's top defensive rating this postseason (106.5).
For DFS players looking to make an entry via SuperDraft's Fantasy Props feature for Game 1, we're here to guide you in the right direction. On SuperDraft, users can win 3X the amount wagered if their two-legged player prop parlay hits. Consequently, the more legs you add to your player prop parlay (maximum six legs), the larger your potential payout becomes, but as the long odds indicate, completing a clean sweep will be challenging.
Below, we'll break down four of our favorite player props on SuperDraft for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Nuggets and Lakers. Users don't necessarily have to parlay all four picks together, though. You could opt to make separate two-legged parlays to increase your win probability or attempt to hit it big if all four picks come through.
Best NBA prop bets today: SuperDraft player prop picks for Nuggets-Lakers Game 1
Aaron Gordon, PF, Nuggets - OVER 6 rebounds
With Davis potentially limiting Jokic's rebounding opportunities by neutralizing him on box-outs, Gordon could be tasked with corralling a fair number of rebounds on both ends of the floor. He's averaged just 6.2 rebounds this postseason, so his prop is correctly priced, but given the Lakers frontcourt profiles more like Denver's first-round opponent, the Timberwolves, than the Suns, we think Gordon reverts to his opening-round numbers.
Gordon went OVER six rebounds in only one of the Nuggets' six games against the Suns but went OVER six rebounds in three of their five games against the Timberwolves, averaging seven rebounds in that series. We think a more competent Lakers' frontcourt does a better job of containing Jokic as a rebounder than the Suns did, leading to Gordon finding his hands on seven-plus rebounds in Game 1.
MORE NUGGETS-LAKERS BETTING: Game 1 preview
LeBron James, SF, Lakers - UNDER 25.5 points
It's not the most enjoyable experience watching a Laker game while betting James to go UNDER his point total, but we think the Association's All-Time leading scorer fails to eclipse 26 points in Game 1. Los Angeles doesn't necessarily need James to shoulder a massive scoring load to win this series, and if there's a team who can keep the modern GOAT in check, it's Denver.
James is averaging just 23.4 points this postseason on 49.1 percent shooting and hasn't found his stroke from three (26.3 percent). Even at 38, there isn't a "LeBron stopper" out there, but Gordon can hold his own against LBJ on drives and isolation plays, resulting in a night where James fails to record 26 points. If Gordon and the rest of the Nuggets can do their best to defend without fouling and keep James away from the charity stripe, chances are he ends Game 1 with fewer than 25.5 points.
Michael Porter Jr., SF, Nuggets - OVER 15 points
Porter Jr. looks to have a significant matchup advantage on the offensive end of the floor against Los Angeles. If L.A. puts either D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, or Dennis Schroder on him with Anthony Davis on Nikola Jokic and James on Gordon, Porter Jr. should feast. It's tough to put much weight into the Nuggets and Lakers regular season series given how different the Lakers look, but in the lone game Porter Jr. played against a Laker team that started both James and Davis (Oct. 30), he went for 17 points despite shooting just five-of-15 from the field.
James stayed attached to Gordon that day, so there's a chance we see Porter Jr. matched up with a guard, aiding in his chances of scoring 16-plus. Even if Porter Jr. starts the game slow, he's been one of the best fourth quarter players this postseason. Among remaining players, MPJ's posted the third-highest scoring average (6.5 ppg), trailing only Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum (h/t HoopMuse).
Austin Reaves, SG, Lakers - OVER 14.5 points
Similar to Porter Jr., Reaves likely draw a plus matchup on the offensive end against Denver's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, giving him a real shot to eclipse his point total. KCP hasn't been nearly as stout on the defense as he was earlier in his career, posting his second-highest defensive rating in '22-23 (114.7).
Couple that with Reaves averaging 19.7 points over his past three games while attempting 13 shots per outing, and the soon-to-be free agent looks to continue boosting his stock and future contract with an efficient Game 1 scoring output.
