For the first time in franchise history, the Denver Nuggets emerged victorious in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night. And with that, a number of Colorado sports betting users cashed in their bet slips.
The Michael Malone-coached club rode a pair of 30-point performances from veterans Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic to a 132-126 Game 1 win over the Lakers at Ball Arena, improving their home record this postseason to 8-0.
Heading into Thursday’s Game 2, Denver is listed as No. 2 on their NBA championship odds board (+165 to Boston’s -105).
BetColorado.com took a look back at how the leading scorers from Game 1 over the last decade have gone on to perform in the remaining Western Conference Finals contests.
Here’s a hint: if you’re wagering on the best Colorado betting apps, it seems safe to keep betting on Jokic to dominate.
WC Finals Game 1 Scoring Leaders
2013
- Tony Parker (San Antonio): 20 points
Led Spurs in PPG (24.5) and assists (9.5) in 4-0 series win - Quincy Pondexter (Memphis): 17 points
Tied for first (Mike Conley) on Grizzlies in PPG (15.3)
2014
- Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City): 28 points
Second in PPG (25.8) and first in rebounding (7.7) in 4-2 series win - Tim Duncan (San Antonio): 27 points
Led Spurs in PPG (17.8) and rebounding (10.2)
2015
- Steph Curry (Golden State): 34 points
Led Warriors in PPG (31.2) and assists (5.6) in 4-1 series win - James Harden (Houston): 28 points
Led Rockets in scoring (28.4) and assists (6.4)
2016
- Steph Curry (Golden State): 26 points
Led Warriors in scoring (27.9) and assists (5.9) in 4-3 series win - Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City): 27 points
Second in scoring (26.7), first in assists (11.3) in series
2017
- Steph Curry (Golden State): 40 points
Led Warriors in scoring (31.5) in 4-0 series win - LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio): 28 points
Led Spurs in scoring (15.5)
2018
- Kevin Durant (Golden State): 37 points
Led Warriors in scoring (30.4) in 4-3 series win - James Harden (Houston): 41 points
Led Rockets in scoring (28.7) and assists (6.0) in series
2019
- Steph Curry (Golden State): 36 points
Led Warriors in scoring (36.5) in 4-0 series win - Damian Lillard (Portland): 19 points
Led Trail Blazers in scoring (22.3) and assists (8.5)
2020
- Jamal Murray/Nikola Jokic (Denver): 21 points
Murray led Denver in PPG (25.0) and assists (7.4); Jokic led in rebounding (7.2) and second in scoring (21.8) - Anthony Davis (L.A. Lakers): 37 points
Led Lakers in PPG (31.2) in a 4-1 series win
2021
- Devin Booker (Phoenix): 40 points
Led Suns in PPG (25.5) in a 4-2 series win - Reggie Jackson (L.A. Clippers): 34 points
Second on Clippers in scoring (20.3) and assists (3.7)
2022
- Steph Curry (Golden State): 21 points
Led Warriors in scoring (23.8) and assists (7.4) in 4-1 series win - Luka Doncic (Dallas): 20 points
Led Mavs in PPG (32.0), rebounding (9.2) and assists (6.0)
2023
- Nikola Jokic (Denver): 34 points
- Anthony Davis (L.A. Lakers): 40 points
Can Nuggets Follow Game 1 Trend?
Over the last six years, a trend has emerged for those betting on the series using Colorado sportsbook promo codes — the winner of Game 1 in the Western Conference Finals has gone on to capture the series.
The last team to win a Game 1 but not the series was Oklahoma City, which beat Golden State (108-102) in Game 1 before falling in seven games.
Since then, the Warriors (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022), Lakers (2020) and Suns (2021) have all ridden a Game 1 victory to an appearance in the NBA Finals.
Over the last eight years, the leading scorer for the winner of Game 1 has gone on to be that team’s No. 1 scoring threat in the series, with Kevin Durant (25.8 PPG in 2014) being the last Game 1 leading scorer to fail to lead their team in points per game at series’ end.
As for Thursday’s Game 2, oddsmakers at BetMGM Sportsbook Colorado have Denver at -210 in the contest, with a spread of -5.5 in favor of the home side.
