Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) is fouled, on a 3-point shot, by Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) in the final second of regulation in an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Los Angeles. Conley made three free throws to send the game into overtime. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Lakers (43-39, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (53-29, first in the Western Conference)
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Nuggets host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Denver Nuggets host the Los Angeles Lakers to begin the Western Conference finals. Denver and Los Angeles tied the regular season series 2-2. The Nuggets won the last regular season matchup 122-109 on Jan. 10. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 34 points, and Russell Westbrook led the Lakers with 25 points.
The Nuggets are 34-18 against Western Conference opponents. Denver ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 55.0 points per game in the paint led by Nikola Jokic averaging 18.5.
The Lakers are 27-25 in conference matchups. Los Angeles is 19-19 in games decided by 10 or more points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jokic is shooting 63.2% and averaging 24.5 points for the Nuggets. Murray is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Denver.
Anthony Davis is averaging 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds and two blocks for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 23.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists over the past 10 games for Los Angeles.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 116.5 points, 43.4 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.3 points per game.
Lakers: 7-3, averaging 112.8 points, 46.9 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 7.3 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.2 points.
The Winter Olympics are in full swing and athletes from around the globe are showcasing their elite skills at a wide variety of events. There's a lot of excitement but also a lot of pressure for these athletes. Former NFL defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion Dominique Easley joined Cheddar News to weigh in.
American freestyle skier Jaelin Kauf joins Cheddar News to talk about taking home the silver medal in the Women's Moguls Final at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Cheddar's Big Game Special gives you all the info you need heading into Sunday's event. Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, Big Game MVP Hines Ward, and Big Game Champion Emmanuel Sanders dissect the action set to take place on the field, Olivia Harlan Dekker delivers her winning wagers, Tom Morton breaks down what we should expect from advertisers, Azia Celestino showcases the atmosphere from Los Angeles, and Baker Machado discusses what viewers should expect to see unfold during the halftime show.
NFL Legends Hines Ward and Terrell Davis join Cheddar Bets to break down their thoughts on The Big Game, what it takes to win under the spotlight, and the matchup between some of the league's brightest stars.
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As the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams prep to face each other in the Big Game at SoFi Stadium in LA, 55 percent of a record number of bettors are projected to drop money on the Rams. Casey Clark, the senior vice president of strategic communications for the American Gaming Association, joined Cheddar News to share some data and predictions based on the greater interest in gambling on Super Bowl LVI. "You know that means that people are migrating away from the predatory illegal market and corner bookie and moving their action into the legal marketplace," he said. "So really encouraging for consumer protections and for those of us who might want to have a little action on the game."
Bills WR Emmanuel Sanders joins Cheddar Bets to discuss The Big Game, playing in some legendary games, and what the NFL needs to change about their rules.
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Under Armour released a successful Q4 earnings report amid supply chain issues. The apparel company said it invested in analytics to decipher what drives consumers to its brand. However, the company warned of potential supply problems going forward due to COVID.
Hyperice is a technology company that specializes in physical recovery for athletes, and it's now partnering with the NFL. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers running back and Hyperice athlete-investor, and Jim Huether, Hyperice CEO, joined Cheddar News to discuss the partnership. "It's definitely for both for performance and for recovery, as somebody who plays a brutal sport and have to go through some of the unfortunate realities of injury," McCaffery said of the products. "You're always fighting for that 0.1 percent difference between winning and losing and and the little things and every second matters."
Showtime series 'Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber' tells the roller coaster ride of Silicon Valley's most successful and most destructive company, Uber. 'The Battle For Uber' is the first of the 'Super Pumped' anthology series in which each new season will explore a true business story that changed our culture in one way or another. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, joins Cheddar News to discuss the series.
