Lakers vs. Nuggets Preview and Game Thread: Gut check time

The Lakers have another opportunity to prove that the Nuggets are no longer their kryptonite on Wednesday.

The Lakers continue their five-game home stand on Wednesday when they host the Denver Nuggets. This is the last matchup between both teams in the regular season and L.A. seeks to tie the series.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

When: 7 PST, Mar 19

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: ESPN, Spectrum SportsNet

The game against the Nuggets should be interesting for more reasons than one.

The last time these two teams faced each other was less than a week ago. The purple and gold took a healthy Denver team down the wire, even without three of their starters. This was an encouraging sight and proved that maybe, just maybe, the Nuggets might no longer be the Lakers’ kryptonite.

On Wednesday, we’ll find out if that’s indeed true. With Luka Dončić and Jaxson Hayes expected to suit up, Los Angeles should put up an even better fight.

Of course, it’ll be another game that can go either way and who will be available for Denver is still very much up in the air. The Nuggets have listed Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun as questionable to play in this contest.

Assuming Jokic and Murray suit up, the Lakers need to take advantage of the Nuggets’ below-average defense.

Denver ranks 19th in the league in that department, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that they give up a lot of points in the paint.

They also don’t have terrifying point-of-attack defenders. This is a game where Dončić and Austin Reaves establish dominance right away.

The important part about beating the Nuggets is containing Jokic, which the Lakers have done well over the last two games.

JJ Redick has found ways to game plan against the three-time MVP, making him less effective as a playmaker and scorer than he normally is. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not that continues in this one or if Michael Malone comes up with an adjustment that counters that.

It would be ideal if the Lakers also found a way to contain Murray, who had 26 points on 9-16 shooting from the field, as well as the game-winner at the last meeting.

Another key to this game is preventing Denver from getting in transition. The Nuggets scored 27 points in transition in their last game against the Lakers, while L.A. scored only 15.

Ultimately, this game will boil down to which team’s key players show up and stand out. If the Lakers want to increase their chances of locking in a top-three seed and homecourt advantage in the Western Conference, then now is the time to fight for it.

More importantly, it’s also time to prove that the Nuggets are no longer their daddies. Let’s see if the Lakers can do just that on Wednesday.

Notes and Updates

• For the Lakers’ injury report, Luka Dončić (right ankle sprain) is listed as probable. Meanwhile, Trey Jemison III (illness) might be active on Wednesday since he’s now considered questionable.
• As expected, Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy), Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery) and LeBron James (left groin strain) are out.
• As for the Nuggets, Christian Braun (left foot inflammation), Nikola Jokic (right elbow contusion) and Jamal Murray (right ankle sprain) are noted as questionable. Julian Strawther (left knee sprain), DaRon Holmes II (right achilles tendon) 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.