Key Reserves: Kendrick Nunn, Troy Brown Jr. Although Los Angeles trails the series 2-0, there were plenty of encouraging signs in Denver. Los Angeles Lakers (0-3) Denver Nuggets (2-2) Lakers predictions, our experts like the home team to cover the -5.5 spread. With Porter out, they will likely lean on Murray a bit more to help pick up the offensive slack. In what was easily their most disappointing game of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to a 3-0 series deficit against the Denver Nuggets after losing 119-108 on Saturday night. The key for the Nuggets, especially on this night, however, will be Jamal Murray who has gotten off to a slow start in his return from a torn ACL. Former Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is also off to a hot start, shooting 47.6 percent from deep so far and Bones Hyland is an extremely explosive scorer off the bench. due to what the Nuggets called lumbar management.Įven still, the Nuggets have plenty of weapons starting with Jokic, who is averaging nearly a triple-double to start the season. Things will also be a little tougher on offense as they will be without their second-leading scorer in Michael Porter Jr. The Nuggets have the opposite issue as they have one of the worst defenses in the league early on this season. While the Lakers are dead last in offensive rating, they are currently second in the league defensive rating, a number even more impressive considering the amount of misses the Lakers have should conceivably lead to a lot of transition opportunities and easy buckets for the opposition. could keep moving forward as team searches for. Nuggets, per sources, a lineup change L.A.

But the Lakers must also continue to keep up their execution on the other side of the court. Lakers guard Austin Reaves is expected to start in place of Russell Westbrook (out, hamstring) tonight vs. Even moving closer towards league average in 3-point percentage would do wonders for this offense and clear out the paint some for Davis and LeBron to attack. Regardless of who is on the court surrounding LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers simply have to hit some outside shots. should also see increased minutes after impressing in his first appearance of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers. Reaves would give the Lakers more size on the perimeter as well as his normal good defense and decision-making. The over record on the point total is 2-4 in games featuring the Nuggets and Lakers this season. Los Angeles is 4-1-1 ATS in games against Denver this season. Los Angeles is 10-4 ATS in the 2023 playoffs. could keep moving forward as team searches for rotations. Los Angeles is 2-0 ATS in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Lakers guard Austin Reaves is expected to start in place of Russell Westbrook (out, hamstring) tonight vs.

Lakers vs nuggets lineup