Trades and Injuries: Lakers vs Nuggets Game Analysis
The blockbuster trade for LA that acquired Luka Doncic has produced a mixed bag so far. With Luka still rusty from his time off with a calf injury and his assimilation with his new teammates, it’s hard to guess his contribution level at this point. Continue reading to find out which is the best choice for this Lakers vs Nuggets prediction.
The Nuggets have performed well against the Lakers in the last few games, which might give them the confidence they need to overcome them.
A key factor might be injuries. The Los Angeles Lakers have not updated their injury report yet, but Denver has two players who are out: Vlatko Ćančar is recuperating from knee surgery and DaRon Holmes II suffers from an Achilles injury. Gordon Aaron, Murray Jamal, and Michael Porter Jr are all probable.
Slouching: Los Angeles Lakers Recent Scores
In their last 10 games, the Lakers have won six and lost four. The first loss was against the Clippers, which is reasonable. But then they lost to progressively worse teams, the 76ers, and their last two games against the Jazz and Hornets. Both are teams near the bottom of the standings. The LA Lakers are on a two-game losing streak.
Los Angeles plays the Trail Blazers tonight (Friday). If recent trends hold, the Lakers will also lose that game. But if they win, it could be a sign that they’re on the upswing and Doncic is getting comfortable in LA.
Easy Ride: Denver Nuggets Recent Scores
The Nuggets are half a game behind the second-place Grizzlies and are on an eight-game winning streak, but their schedule was easy. Their last two games were against the Trail Blazers, whom they beat resoundingly each time. Taking on the Lakers will be a step up from their previous eight games. Hopefully, they haven’t become too complacent.
Surprise Comeback? Lakers vs Nuggets Score Prediction
Nikola Jokić continues to dominate the game as he leads his team on stats such as points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, and steals per game. If he is firing on all cylinders, he will lead the team to a victory. Conversely, Luca Doncic leads the Lakers in points per game, rebounds per game and steals per game. But he isn’t doing as well as Jokić.
LA will try to disrupt Jokić’s playmaking by blocking the passing lanes. But Denver’s coach, Michael Malone, has successfully countered LA’s tactics in the past. Denver also has the home court advantage, which can help.
Murray and Porter Jr. are key players for the Nuggets, averaging 21.0 and 19.0 points, respectively. If they’re back in the lineup, the Lakers will not win.
The Nuggets have averaged 131.2 points in their last five games. The Lakers will struggle to keep up unless they can defend against that firepower. Expect a high-scoring game with Denver holding the lead most of the game. Also, remember to stay connected with us at PayPerHead to be aware of everything related to the sports world.
