Nuggets vs Lakers Game 4 Player Props: Jokic Dominates in Elimination Tilt

These are desperate times for the Los Angeles Lakers as they try to fight off a Western Conference Finals sweep and force the series back to Denver.

The Lakers had no answer for Jamal Murray’s 37-point clinic in Game 3, or Nikola Jokic’s masterful fourth quarter — and the Denver Nuggets are now within touching distance of their first NBA Finals appearance.

With the rotations shortening and the stars shouldering an even bigger minutes load, the pool of high-value player props is a little shallower heading into Game 4, but there are still some tasty options for tonight’s showdown at Crypto.com Arena.

Here are our best free NBA player prop picks for Game 4 on May 22. You can also check out our full Nuggets vs. Lakers betting picks.

Nuggets vs Lakers Game 4 player prop picks

• Hachimura Over 13.5 points (-113)
• James Under 25.5 (-122)
• Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds (-114)

Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Nuggets vs Lakers Game 4 props

Scorer Hachimura 

Where would the Los Angeles Lakers be without the deal for Rui Hachimura before the trade deadline? Hachimura’s minutes have increased in each game in this series (28 to 30 to 32) and he’s averaging 17 points against a Denver Nuggets defense focused on stopping LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

With L.A. now facing elimination games, Hachimura’s minutes could climb again — and it wouldn’t be a complete shock if he starts here in place of Jarred Vanderbilt. Either way, he’s been taking minutes from Vanderbilt and D’Angelo Russell in this series as Darvin Ham leans on his bigger two-way threat.

Whether he’s guarding Jokic as the primary defender or not, Hachimura has been a difference-maker in this series, and he’s been comfortable flashing his offensive game when the Denver defense is in scramble mode. He’s 3-for-6 from 3-point range and has had success attacking the basket when driving lanes open up.

The former Wizard had 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting in Game 2, and I see him getting enough open looks in big minutes to cash in this prop. 

Pick: Rui Hacimura Over 13.5 points (-113)

LeBron held in check

Through the first three games in this series, the Nuggets have done a solid job of keeping LeBron James out of the paint, with Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Bruce Brown making him work for every basket. Any time LeBron has to settle for taking long jumpers or setting up perimeter shooters, it feels like a win for Denver.

LeBron’s efficiency took a hit in Game 3 as the wear and tear of this playoff run seemed to show. His minutes spiked to 43 on Saturday and the Nuggets are making him work defensively. That surely contributed to him missing 11 of his 19 shots on Saturday. 

James has fallen short of 25 points in his last two games, making a bigger impact as a playmaker, but his struggles from 3-point range are another reason why I like the Under here.

LeBron is 3-for-19 from behind the arc in this series and that’s allowing the Nuggets defenders to give themselves an extra cushion against his drives. He’s also 1-for-23 on his last 24 fourth-quarter triples.

While he’s likely to get very little rest in Game 4, I see James’ night tilting more toward assists than points.

Pick: LeBron James Under 25.5 points (-122)

Jokic dominates the boards

Foul trouble put a dent in all the Nikola Jokic props in Game 3, but the first two games of the series tell you everything you need to know about the two-time MVP’s ability to fill up the box score.

I expect Jokic to be back up to his usual 42 minutes on the floor tonight and deliver a similar stat line to the first two games where he grabbed a combined 38 rebounds.

When LeBron or Hachimura are guarding him, Jokic has a clear edge as an offensive rebounder, and he’s been cleaning the glass defensively off L.A. misses. The Lakers haven’t been able to drag him far enough from the rim to hurt his rebounding numbers, and I don’t see that changing at this point.

As Denver tries to close out this series on the road, teammate Bruce Brown has called for the Nuggets to “give them no hope” — and that starts with a dominant Jokic performance in the paint.

During this playoff run, the big Serbian has hauled in 14+ rebounds six times, and I’m backing him to add to that tally tonight.

Pick: Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds (-114)

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