Author: Monojit Mandal
Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets will face the tough Lakers in a highly anticipated clash of the Western Conference Finals in 2023. To win his first NBA title, Jokic must overcome the obstacle posed by LeBron James, a player who is well-versed in playoff success. The series is scheduled to start on Tuesday, with Game 1 taking place in Denver.
The top-seeded Nuggets will be making their second trip to the Western Conference Finals in the last four years.Denver is starting the streak hoping to overcome its last setback, a 4-1 loss to the Lakers in the 2019/20 Western Conference Finals, and win its first NBA title. His only Finals appearance came in 1976, shortly before the NBA merged with the ABA.
Meanwhile, the Lakers, who took 7th place in the playoffs, have had an incredible journey so far. They surprised the Memphis Grizzlies, number 2 in the rankings, in the first round after beating the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, in six games. The Lakers’ determined play positioned them as a formidable opponent for the Nuggets.
The Western Conference Finals will begin on Tuesday, May 16 and run until Sunday, May 28, assuming the series lasts seven games. With the exception of Game 3, which will be shown on ABC, fans will be able to watch all the exciting action on ESPN. The games will be available to watch on WatchESPN and the ESPN mobile app for those who wish.
Here is the full schedule for the 2023 Western Conference Finals:
- Game 1: Lakers vs. Nuggets, Tuesday, May 16, 8:30 ET , ESPN
- Game 2: Lakers vs. Nuggets, Thursday, May 18, 8:30 a.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 3: Nuggets vs. Lakers, Saturday, May 20, 8:30 ET, ABC
- Game 4: Nuggets vs. Lakers, Monday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Game 5: Lakers vs. Nuggets, Wednesday, May 24, 8:30 ET, ESPN (if necessary)
- Game 6: Nuggets vs. Lakers, Friday, May 26, 8:30 a.m. ET, ESPN (if necessary)
- Game 7: Lakers-Nuggets, Sunday, May 28, 8:30 a.m. ET, ESPN (if necessary)
With Jokic eyeing the coveted NBA title, the clash between the Nuggets and the Lakers promises to be an exciting duel between two talented and motivated teams.