Lakers vs. Nuggets Preview and Game Thread: Undermanned in Denver

The Lakers will look to pull off a miracle win on the road against the Nuggets on Friday.

The Lakers are back at it on Friday when they take on the Nuggets in Denver. Los Angeles looks to snap their current three-game losing streak, but their work will be cut out for them against a Denver team that’s also looking to get back in the winning column.

The season series between these two teams is currently tied at 1-1.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

When: 6:30 PST, Mar 14

Where: Ball Arena

Watch: NBA TV, Spectrum Sportsnet

As if this road trip can’t get any worse for LA, they will fly to all the way to Denver overnight to take on their nemesis less than 24 hours after embarrassing themselves in Milwaukee. Given how the Lakers have performed during LeBron James’ absence, all I’m going to say is that they need our thoughts and prayers for this one.

It’s unfortunate that the purple and gold happen to be at their unhealthiest this season at a time when their schedule is at its toughest. To add insult to injury, they’re falling behind in the standings at the wrong time. The three teams behind them — the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves — are all in the midst of their own winning streaks, too.

L.A. went from having sole control of the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference to dropping to fourth in a span of days simply because they’ve lost three straight games. Now, they’re going to go up against a Nuggets team that not only has payback in their mind for the loss the Lakers handed to them last month but one that wants to create some separation in the standings.

Currently, Denver is at the third spot just right above L.A.

So how do the Lakers defeat the Nuggets on Friday night? Well:

It’s going to take a miracle

With three starters out and a rest disadvantage ahead of this one, it’s fair to think that this might just be another blowout loss for the Lakers. If they can’t beat a Bucks team with Luka Dončić scoring 45 points and Austin Reaves contributing 28, then I have no idea how they can beat a Nuggets team that knows this version of the Lakers have no cover for Nikola Jokic. Yes, we’ve seen enough of Alex Len minutes, but we might have no choice.

Perhaps the only way Los Angeles can leave Mile High City with a win is if they outshoot the Nuggets from the field. Aside from Dončić, someone else has to show up in this one.

Note that the Nuggets aren’t the best 3-point shooting team, so if the Lakers happen to catch them on a bad night, then that would be great. Hopefully, Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, Dorien Finney-Smith or even Jordan Goodwin will play extraordinarily well. Someone has to.

As we saw in the Lakers’ last matchup against the Nuggets, the latter isn’t as overwhelming as they used to be, but that doesn’t mean they’re not a good team. Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon and Russell Westbrook will definitely get up for this one. Hopefully, JJ Redick cooks up a game plan that will get the Lakers to compete.

This game was supposed to be a vital one given the stakes involved but those expectations have obviously dampened given how shorthanded the Lakers are. Generally speaking, the most important thing for Los Angeles right now is to get healthy while not falling in the play-in tournament.

Hopefully, this dry spell doesn’t last any longer. Or maybe, just maybe, the undermanned Lakers get over this dry spell by pulling off a miracle win in Denver on Friday night.

Notes and Updates

• Since the Lakers played on Thursday against the Bucks, no injury report has yet to be released for this one. But JJ Redick did say postgame that the expectation is for everybody to play, depending on how they feel in the morning.
• As for Denver, Nikola Jokic (right elbow contusion), Jamal Murray (left knee inflammation), Zeke Nnaji (left ankle sprain) are all probable. Aaron Gordon (right calf injury) is questionable while DaRon Holmes II (right achilles tendon) and Julian Strawther (left knee sprain) are out.
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.