This year marks the fourth time the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers will meet in the NBA Western Conference. Finals kicked off Tuesday, May 16, at Ball Arena, with the Nuggets pulling a 132-126 win. The two will battle it out until one team reaches four wins. Here’s the schedule with games 5-7 if it goes there.
- Game 1: Tuesday, May 16, Denver, 6:30 p.m. MDT (Nuggets won)
- Game 2: Thursday, May 18, Denver, 6:30 p.m. MDT (Nuggets won)
- Game 3: Saturday, May 20, Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m. MDT (Nuggets won)
- Game 4: Monday, May 22, Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m. MDT (Nuggets won)
- Game 5: Wednesday, May 24, Denver, 6:30 p.m. MDT
- Game 6: Friday, May 26, Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m. MDT
- Game 7: Sunday, May 28, Denver, 6:30 p.m. MDT
While many Nugget fans are happy to be in the playoffs, we can’t hide that the Nuggets have lost all seven times they’ve encountered the Lakers in the playoffs. With a strong team and coach Michael Malone who’s “the most winningest playoff coach in the franchise history,” this year’s playoffs seem promising.
“Much is being made of them putting Rui Hachimura on Nikola Jokic as we’ve never seen that before,” Malone said, as reported by NBA.com. “But that’s what you love about getting that Game 1 under your belt. You have a much better feel now of what to expect. Obviously, we’re gonna make adjustments going into Game 2, and I’m sure they will. Now it’s just a constant tinkering of doing whatever you think is gonna give yourself the best chance to win this game and, more importantly, win this series.”
All games will be broadcast on ESPN and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.
