The Los Angeles Lakers received 13 points to win the 2018-19 Western Conference Finals, according to the ESPN Summer Forecast panel.
As the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors remain the favorites with 165 points, receiving all first-place votes, the Houston Rockets — who nearly defeated them in last year’s Western Conference Finals — finished second with 89 points.
The Oklahoma City Thunder placed slightly ahead of the Lakers with 16 points. L.A. received more votes than the Utah Jazz (nine points) and San Antonio Spurs (two).
With the Warriors eventually having five All-Star starters once DeMarcus Cousins returns from an Achilles injury, they are looking to win their fourth championship in five consecutive NBA Finals appearances.