The Los Angeles Lakers expect to contend for an NBA championship as long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy and on the roster. While that is the expectation, the Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of last year’s playoffs which highlighted their need for roster changes.

Contenders to win the 2024-25 NBA championship, according to bookmakers, are the Denver Nuggets, who have the fourth-best odds among all squads at +1000. They start the season on Thursday, October

Whatever the reason, basketball-starved Celtics fans were likely rejoicing on Friday, Oct. 4, as their team defeated the Denver Nuggets 107-103 in a preseason game in Abu Dhabi. Another happy tidbit is that the two teams will go toe-to-toe again on Sunday, Oct. 6, giving basketball fans the dopamine hit they've all been waiting for.