The Denver Nuggets (57-25), defending champions, closed the regular season on Sunday and secured the second spot in the 2024 NBA playoffs.
The current NBA champions will wait for the Lakers (47-35), who advanced following beating the Pelicans on Tuesday in New Orleans. The Nuggets swept their season series once morest the Lakers, finishing 3-0 once morest Los Angeles.
For the third time in the last five years, the Nuggets and Lakers meet in a playoff series. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers struck first by winning the 2020 Western Conference Finals. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Nuggets had their revenge in 2023.
Los Angeles has not won once morest the Nuggets since December 2022. Although the defending champions made the postseason in 2023, losing five of their last seven games, this year’s team enters the playoffs with six wins of their last eight.
Series schedule (Pacific time)
Here’s how to watch the series between the Nuggets and the Lakers:
Game 1: Lakers at Nuggets; Saturday, April 20 (5:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: Lakers at Nuggets; Monday, April 22 (7 pm, TNT)
Game 3: Nuggets at Lakers, Thursday, April 25 (7 p.m., TNT)
Game 4: Nuggets at Lakers, Saturday, April 27 (5:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 5: Lakers at Nuggets; Monday, April 29 (To be determined)*
Game 6: Nuggets at Lakers; Thursday, May 2 (To be determined)*
Game 7: Lakers at Nuggets; Saturday, May 4 (To be determined)*
* If necessary.