Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 4 odds, expert picks: Denver goes for the sweep in LA

There are brooms all over Los Angeles right now. No, a new Harry Potter movie is not being filmed. The Denver Nuggets are on the precipice of sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers out of the playoffs.

It’s a disappointing turn of events for many, but Denver was one of the best teams in the league all season while Los Angeles had to fight their way through the Play-In Tournament.

Since 1947, there have been 152 conference finals series and 23 of those resulted in a sweep. We are not in uncharted territory.

The Lakers could win a game or two, but the “eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard and the Jell-O’s jiggling.” There have been 110 series in which a team was down 0-3. None of them have come back to win, so the Lakers would truly have to do something historic in order to advance to the NBA Finals.

During the NBA Playoffs, The Athletic’s writers will make their straight-up picks. You’ll find picks, coverage and the latest odds here. Our in-depth NBA coverage is linked below the picks.

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No. 7 Lakers vs. No. 1 Nuggets

8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

What are the odds for the Lakers vs. Nuggets?

Series: Nuggets lead 3-0

Series odds: Nuggets -3000, Lakers +1400

The Lakers finally outrebounded and scored more points in the paint during Game 3, but the end result was the same: L. The Nuggets out-mathed the Lakers as they went 17-of-41 from downtown while Los Angeles was 10-of-32.

Denver has arguably the two best players in the series with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, but it’s been the depth that has really given them the advantage, especially Bruce Brown, who has been everywhere and done everything.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis are and have been fantastic, while Austin Reaves is showing why he will likely get a bag or two in the offseason. But outside of those three, there hasn’t been much. Rui Hachimura has had his moments but D’Angelo Russell has been unplayable.

Denver has been on a mission all season and it looks like they have been well-versed in the teachings of John Kreese: Strike first. Strike hard. No mercy!

The Nuggets are going to sweep the leg and the Lakers have no crane kick to save the day.

Expert picks for Lakers vs. Nuggets

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What Michael Malone and Jamal Murray tell us about Nuggets patience — like not trading Murray — paying off

How the Nuggets’ chemistry has them on cusp of first NBA Finals appearance

(Photo of Bruce Brown: Harry How / Getty Images)