Denver begins its quest for back-to-back NBA titles against the same opponent it vanquished to win the Western Conference last season: the Los Angeles Lakers.

The second-seeded Nuggets host the seventh-seeded Lakers in Game 1 of the first round series at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday evening.

Nikola Jokic and company had no problems with Los Angeles in last year’s playoffs, erasing the Lakers in a clean four-game sweep. Jokic dominated, averaging 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 11.8 assists in the series. 

In fact, Denver has had few problems with the Lakes over the last 2-plus years. The Nuggets enter the series having won their last eight contests against Los Angeles, including the postseason.

The Lakers will look to sustain momentum after winning the No. 7 vs. No. 8 Play-In game on Tuesday night, earning a 110-106 victory over the Pelicans.

Since falling to 36-32 on March 16, the Lakers have won 12 of their last 15 games, hitting their stride at the perfect time. Anthony Davis and LeBron James, both healthy, remain the focal points, but Los Angeles’ success may be determined by the complimentary pieces like Austin Reeves, Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell. All three scored in double-figures in Tuesday’s win.

Here is everything that you need to know ahead of Game 1 of Lakers vs. Nuggets.

What channel is Lakers vs. Nuggets on today? 

• TV channel: ABC
• Live stream: Sling, NordVPN

Game 1 of Lakers vs. Nuggets will air nationally on ABC. Fans can also stream the game on Sling.

Sling is the home for avid sports fans, offering a range of sports channels so you can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1, and more. 

In the United Kingdom, select playoff games are available to watch on TNT Sports and stream on Discovery+. In India, fans can catch select playoff games on Sports 18 and JioCinema (check local listings). Games can also be streamed via NBA League Pass.

If a game is not available to watch live in your location, or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs provide a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming service from any device, anywhere in the world. 

Lakers vs. Nuggets start time

• Date: Saturday, April 20
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT

Lakers vs. Nuggets will tip off around 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 20. The game will be played at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

Denver, as the No. 2 seed, has home-court advantage and will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. Los Angeles will host Games 3, 4 and 6.

Lakers vs. Nuggets tickets

Tickets for NBA Playoff games are now available on StubHub. You can check out seating charts for games by clicking on the link below.

BUY NOW: Get tickets for 2024 NBA Playoffs on StubHub

Lakers vs. Nuggets odds via BetMGM

Denver is a 7.5-point favorite heading into Game 1. For the full market, check out BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA.

Lakers vs. Nuggets schedule

Here is the complete schedule for the NBA Playoff series between the Lakers and Nuggets:

(7) Lakers vs. (2) Nuggets

*If necessary