The Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to even the series on Monday after a difficult Game 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. After surviving the play-in tournament, LeBron James and the Lakers were pitted against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets for a second season in a row in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
The 114-103 loss in Game 1 was a major setback for Los Angeles, but Darvin Ham’s team can take plenty of positives from the hard-fought encounter. The team led by as many as 12 points in the first half before relinquishing their early advantage to the defending champions, but strong performances from Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who combined for 59 points and 20 rebounds, will give the Lakers fanbase some hope.
The Nuggets will be looking to lock up home court advantage with a second win. Michael Malone’s side are 4-0 against the Lakers this season and 9-0 in their last nine meetings.
During the regular season, the Nuggets finished first in the Western Conference with a 57-25 record and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Lakers finished seventh in the West with a 47-35 record and are 7-3 in their last ten games.
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Breakdown: Los Angeles Lakers Desperate to Upset Denver Nuggets to Avoid 2-0 Deficit
| Los Angeles Lakers | Denver Nuggets |
| Record: 48-36 (including playoffs) | Record: 58-25 |
| O/U Record: 47-36-1 | O/U Record: 35-47-1 |
| Spread Record: 39-45 | Spread Record: 39-42-2 |
| Injuries: Cam Reddish, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, Jalen Hood-Schifino. | Injuries: Vlatko Čančar |
| Key Players to Watch: Anthony Davis (24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game) LeBron James (25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists per game) | Key Players to Watch: Nikola Jokic (26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9 assists per game) |
Los Angeles Lakers Versus Denver Nuggets Preview
Date: April 22
Time: 10 PM EST
Location: Ball Arena, Denver
Darvin Ham will be in search of a winning formula after failing to beat the Nuggets in his last nine attempts. The Lakers were also swept by the Nuggets in last year’s playoffs, which only adds to the narrative that they cannot overcome the Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic will be the man to stop (or at least contain) if the Lakers have any chance of tying this series before returning to Southern California. The Serbian center has been exceptional this season and could be rewarded for his hard work with a third MVP honor. In Game 1, Jokic led his team in points (32), rebounds (12) and finished with 7 assists.
The Lakers will rely heavily on Anthony Davis on both the offensive and defensive front. Davis will need to be at his best to limit Jokic’s impact and if he can contribute with some offensive production, the Lakers have a legitimate chance to upset the Nuggets. In Game 1, Davis finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists.
It is important to note the both Anthony Davis and LeBron James have faced a gruelling schedule to finish out the season. James has played a total of 82 minutes and Davis 85 minutes over their last two games. Fatigue could end up being a factor especially in the second half as they look to challenge a Nuggets team that has virtually no injury concerns.
Our Picks: Denver Nuggets Look to Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic to Maintain Home Court Advantage Before Game 3 in Los Angeles
Spread (BetMGM): Denver Nuggets (-7.5)
Over/Under (BetMGM): 223.5 ponts
Pick 1: Nuggets (-7.5)
The Nuggets have been strong at home with an overall 34-8 record at the Ball Arena this year. They have won their last four encounters versus the Lakers by 11, 10, 8 and 12 points, respectively. As previously mentioned, fatigue could also be a factor for both James and Davis who have played a lot on minutes in the last week. If their two superstars are not up to par, the Lakers could fade away late in the game.
Pick 2: LeBron James ( Over 25.5 points)
James knows that he is reaching the final stages of his career and will be looking to turn it up to avoid a 2-0 deficit in the series. He recorded 27, 28, 37 and 33 in his last four outings and will want to ball in his hands during this must-win game.
