The 2022-23 NBA season is nearing its pinnacle after a tremendously entertaining postseason. The first two rounds are in the books, with the final four set to begin. The Western Conference Finals will begin on Tuesday, a day before the Eastern Conference Finals, and Game 1 will be hosted in Denver. The No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets take on the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Lakers in a best-of-seven matchup with a berth in the 2023 NBA Finals on the line. By virtue of owning the best record in the conference, Denver has home-court advantage and the opener will take place at Ball Arena.

Los Angeles scuffled to a 43-39 record during the regular season, landing in the play-in tournament as a result. However, the Lakers made broad changes to the roster before the trade deadline, overhauling the rotation and improving the team's depth. From there, LeBron James and Anthony Davis bring a strong foundation, and the Lakers upended the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. Los Angeles followed that with a six-game win over the Golden State Warriors in the conference semifinals, punctuating that series victory with a blowout in Game 6 on Friday.

Denver has been the best team in the playoffs to this point, winning eight of 11 games. The Nuggets won 53 games during the regular season, including 34 victories at home, and Denver cruised against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. That was followed up by a more significant challenge against the Phoenix Suns, with Denver needing six games to advance. Still, the Nuggets throttled the Suns on the road in Game 6 on Thursday, continuing what has been an incredible season-long performance.

Below, we'll dive into the Western Conference Finals from every angle, including a pick on the winner and a best bet on the series. As the seven-game matchup commences, the Nuggets are -155 favorites ($155 to win $100) at Caesars Sportsbook, with the Lakers listed at +135 ($100 to win $135) to advance. Denver is +240 to win the 2023 NBA title. Los Angeles is listed at +300 to win the championship.

Lakers vs. Nuggets full series odds

• Series winner: Nuggets -155 | Lakers +135
  
• Series handicap: Nuggets -1.5 (+145) | Lakers +1.5 (-175)
• Series alternate handicap: Lakers -1.5 (+210) | Nuggets +1.5 (-260)
• Total number of games: Six (+175) | Seven (+175) | Five (+300) | Four (+750)
• Exact finish: Nuggets in 7 (+275) | Lakers in 6 (+380) | Nuggets in 5 (+450) | Nuggets in 6 (+500) | Lakers in 7 (+650) | Nuggets in 4 (+1200) | Lakers in 5 (+1200) | Lakers in 4 (+2000)

What should you expect for the Lakers vs. Nuggets matchup in the Western Conference Finals? And what is the best way to handicap the action before it begins?... Join SportsLine right now to see full Lakers vs. Nuggets playoff strategy from an NBA expert!