Oddsmakers have Nuggets as big underdogs against Warriors in playoffs

Nine years ago, the No. 6 seeded Golden State Warriors beat the No. 3 seeded Denver Nuggets in a first-round playoff series.

Nearly a decade later, Denver will try to flip the script.

That series launched the Warriors into an eventual dynasty, winning three NBA titles. The Nuggets fired former head coach George Karl and began an eventual rebuild now led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.

It was a moment in time that sent the two franchises in different directions. Can Denver get some revenge in the 2022 playoffs? Not according to the oddsmakers.

With Golden State now the No. 3 seed and the Nuggets the No. 6 seed, the Warriors have been set as a -240 favorite to take the series, while Denver is a +194 underdog. This means a wager of $240 would pay $100 if Golden State wins the series, while a wager of $100 would pay $194 if the Nuggets pulled off the upset.

The oddsmakers also think the series could wrap up fairly quickly, as a Warriors 4-1 win in five games is the most likely outcome at +280. Denver’s best chances to win the series, according to the wise guys in Vegas, is in six games. That’s been set at +600.

Regardless, it’s clear the expectation is that Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will send the Nuggets home in rather quick fashion. Then again, Denver has the soon to be back-to-back MVP in Jokic, so anything is possible.

Only a start time for Game 1 of the series has been announced, as the two teams will play in San Francisco on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. on ABC. Let’s see if the Nuggets can shock the oddsmakers and the NBA world.
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