The defending champion Denver Nuggets are on the verge of a season series sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Catch the game tomorrow at 9:30 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Denver Nuggets (41-19, 17-14 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

• Jamal Murray
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
• Michael Porter Jr.
• Aaron Gordon
• Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets beat the Miami Heat on Friday in a finals rematch, 103-97, and have now put together a four-game winning streak. However, there’s one setback: Jamal Murray got hurt in the game and is considered day-to-day.

Murray’s potential absence is huge. He’s a deadly scorer and shooter, and has been punishing the Lakers with such play. In two games vs. LAL this season, he has 25.0 points and 8.5 assists per game on 52.6% shooting from the field, including a superb 57.1% from downtown on 7.0 attempts.

Still, it’s not lost that the defending champs have a perfect 7-0 record in their last seven meetings with the Lakers, which dates back to last year’s regular season and playoffs.

Denver’s two wins over LA this season are 119-107 on opening night and 114-106 last February 8th. As always, Nikola Jokic (25.8 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 9.3 APG) will lead the way, and will be primarily backed up by Aaron Gordon (13.9 PPG) and Michael Porter (16.4 PPG) should Murray sit the game out.

HOME: Los Angeles Lakers (34-28, 21-9 HOME)

Projected starting five:

• D’Angelo Russell
• Austin Reaves
• Taurean Prince
• LeBron James
• Anthony Davis

The Lakers are staying strange. They enter as winners of back-to-back games, one where they overcame a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the high-seeded LA Clippers (116-112), and one where they needed overtime to escape the lowly Washington Wizards (134-131, OT), owners of the worst record in the league.

That being said, the Lakeshow are indeed 9-3 across their last 12 games, averaging 121.3 PPG and allowing 117.4 in that span. It’s a solid stretch that they hope could bring confidence ahead of facing their formidable foes.

Anthony Davis is key in this as he is one that can really challenge the Nuggets defense. He has modest scoring in the season series at 24.5 PPG, although it is accompanied by all-around numbers: 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks. The same goes with LeBron James, who has 23.0 / 8.5 / 6.0 on 52.8% shooting in two games vs. DEN.

D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves should hope to show up as well, especially the former. He has produced 22.6 points and 6.8 assists in his last 21 games, but only had 11 on 4-of-12 shooting in his lone game against the Nuggets this season.

PREDICTIONS:

Handicap: The Lakers (-1.5) don’t cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total goes over 229.