LeBron James & Nikola Jokic Best Prop Bets for Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 1

Author:
Zach Lutz
May 16, 2023 11:39 AM EDT

The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets are set to play Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Tuesday, with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 PM ET. While it remains to be seen which team holds an edge on the court, we can analyze each team’s past series to gain an insight into their gameplans.

There’s one thing we do know: LeBron James will be a major factor for the Lakers and Nikola Jokic will play a key role for the Nuggets. Below, we’ll provide our top LeBron James and Nikola Jokic player props and explain how to qualify for FanDuel’s $1,000 No Sweat First Bet new-user promotion.

LAKERS VS. NUGGETS PREDICTION: LeBron James over 14.5 rebounds + assists (-128 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

If you’re ready to tail our LeBron James and Nikola Jokic player prop picks, click this link to create an account with FanDuel Sportsbook . Once you sign up using a link from this article, make a deposit of at least $10 and bet $10 or more, up to $1,000 and you will not have to sweat the outcome, thanks to insurance that credits bonus bets back in the case of a loss.

No promo code is required to qualify for this offer, but you’ll need to sign up using a link provided in this article to ensure you qualify.

Player Stats for LeBron James & Nikola Jokic Ahead of Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 1

Before we get into our top LeBron James and Nikola Jokic player prop picks, let’s look at their relevant statlines to gain some background knowledge:

LeBron James 2022-2023 Per-Game Averages

28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 6.8 APG, 2.2 3PPG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, .500 FG%, .321 3P%, .768 FT%

LeBron James Career Per-Game Averages

27.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.6 3PPG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG, .505 FG%, .345 3P%, .735 FT%

LeBron James 2022-2023 NBA Playoffs Per-Game Averages

23.4 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 3PPG, 0.9 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Nikola Jokic 2022-2023 Per-Game Averages

24.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 9.8 APG, 0.8 3PPG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, .632 FG%, .383 3P%, .822 FT%

Nikola Jokic Career Per-Game Averages

20.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.0 3PPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG, .553 FG%, .348 3P%, .829 FT%

Nikola Jokic 2022-2023 NBA Playoffs Per-Game Averages

30.7 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 9.7 APG, 1.7 3PPG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Best Prop Bets for LeBron James

With LeBron James’ reputation as perhaps the greatest basketball player in the modern era, it’s often difficult to get valuably-priced prop bets on him, particularly in high-leverage games where James has thrived throughout his career.

Still, we think LeBron James’ combined rebounds and assists prop, currently set at 14.5 on FanDuel (over -128), provides some worthwhile value to bettors for Game 1.

In his 12 total playoff games this season, LeBron has accumulated 15 or more combined rebounds and assists in eight games, a solid 67%. While his rebounding was down in the Western Conference Semifinals – likely as a result of gameplanning more than anything – he still averaged exactly 10 rebounds per game throughout the playoffs.

This gives him a solid floor for this bet, as he can easily surpass 10 boards on any given night (he’s racked up as many as 20 rebounds in a single game already this postseason).

While his assists have fluctuated more than his rebounds have, he’s still averaged 5.3 assists per game in this year’s playoff run. For LeBron James’ combined rebounds and assists prop to cash, he’d only have to play up to his playoff average this year: 10 RPG and 5.3 APG. While the (-128) odds on the over aren’t the friendliest, it’s pretty solid value considering the caliber of LeBron and his per-game upside.

If you’d like to tail our LeBron James player prop pick, click this link to create a FanDuel Sportsbook account. Once you sign up, make a deposit of at least $10 and bet at least $10, maximum $1,000, on any sports market (including LeBron James player props), to bet behind insurance that will either pay you out like normal in a win, or refund you 100% in a loss. No promo code is required when you use that link above to sign up.

Best Prop Bets for Nikola Jokic

Similar to the situation with LeBron James, it can be difficult to get valuable player prop odds on Nikola Jokic. He’s been one of (if not the singular) most productive players in this year’s postseason and his postseason per-game averages have surpassed his career averages in each offensive category.

However, one area where Jokic has really turned up the heat is from beyond the arc. While he’s not typically known as a three-point shooter, he has the ability to be one: his .348 career three-point percentage shows that he has the shot to be an elite perimeter shooter if he so desires.

Throughout this year’s playoffs, Jokic has been letting it fly from three-point land more than usual. Over his career, he’s averaged exactly 1.0 threes made per game; however, this postseason that number has climbed to an impressive 1.7. His total three-pointer prop is currently set at 1.5 (over +176) on FanDuel.

Considering the Lakers’ team makeup, it’s likely Jokic will face some double-teams or difficult matchups against LeBron James or Anthony Davis in the paint. This may lead him to bounce outside or to take the perimeter shots when they’re handed to him. It won’t take a record-shattering performance for him to cash on his incredibly bettor-friendly (+176) betting odds, either: he’d just need to make two threes, something he’s done in six of his 11 playoff appearances so far.

He’s especially turned it up down the stretch, nailing two or more threes in three of his last five postseason appearances. With most of his other props either set fairly high or posted with low-value odds, we think Nikola Jokic’s total threes prop is your best bet for Game 1.

If you agree with our analysis and want to tail us on Nikola Jokic’s total three-pointers prop, click this link and create an account with FanDuel Sportsbook . Once you sign up using a link provided in this article, make a deposit of at least $10 and bet $10 or more on any sports market (including Nikola Jokic player props), you’ll earn first-bet insurance up to $1,000. No promo code is required to qualify, but you will need to sign up using the link above to ensure you qualify.

How to Bet on James & Jokic with FanDuel and Get $150 in Betting Bonuses

FanDuel Sportsbook is making it easy for NBA bettors to pad their bankroll as they get ready for the home stretch of the NBA Playoffs. To become eligible for up to $1,000 in bonus bets should your first wager lose, you’ll need to satisfy the following conditions:

Be a first-time FanDuel Sportsbook user
Be 21 years of age or older
Be located in an area where FanDuel Sportsbook operates
Sign up for an account by clicking on this link
Make a first-time deposit of at least $10
Bet $10-$1,000 on any sports market, such as the Nikola Jokic or LeBron James props above

Once you follow the steps outlined above, you’ll earn a $1,000 No Sweat First Bet to wager behind. Remember, no promo code is associated with this offer, so you’ll need to sign up using a link from this article to qualify and earn your sign-up bonus.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.