The Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers have a tied regular-season series, with each winning a game at the expense of the other. The Nuggets won the first meeting, while the Lakers took care of business in the second. Who’ll be on top after Round 3?

Catch this game live on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Denver Nuggets (41-26, 23-13 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jamal Murray
  • Christian Braun
  • Cameron Johnson
  • Aaron Gordon (DTD)
  • Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets are picking up some serious steam again. After getting blown out by the New York Knicks and a close loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dener ripped the Houston Rockets apart, 129-93, on Thursday and outlasted the San Antonio Spurs the following day, 136-131. 

Jamal Murray has been a huge reason behind the Nuggets’ nice turnaround, as he’s scored 69 points in the last two games, while shooting 52.4% from the field.  He also shot 50% from deep in those contests. 

Nikola Jokic hasn’t been too shabby either. Against San Antonio, Jokic sent a strong reminder of why he’s a top contender for the MVP award. He made San Antonio look like a bunch of regular joes by posting 31 points on 9/17 shooting, 20 rebounds and 12 assists. The Lakers know all about it, as the three-time NBA MVP had 28 points, 13 assists and 12 boards in a 120-113 Denver win at home on March 6.

Home: Los Angeles Lakers (41-25, 22-12 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Luka Doncic
  • Austin Reaves
  • Marcus Smart (DTD)
  • LeBron James
  • Deandre Ayton

If not for that aforementioned loss to the Nuggets, the Lakers would have been entering Sunday’s showdown in LA on an eight-game winning streak. Since that defeat, Luka Doncic and company have ripped off four wins in a row, including a 142-130 victory at home over the Chicago Bulls on Friday. That game can be best remembered for Doncic’s absurd 51-point performance, as he shot 17/31 from the field and 9/14 from behind the arc. 

While pulling off back-to-back 50s is a rare feat, Doncic seems to be just the kind of dude who can do it. In any case, focus will always be on Doncic when he plays, and that leads to opportunities for the other two main Lakers guys in LeBron James and Austin Reaves, who had 18 and 30 points, respectively, against the Bulls. 

But defense will be a main concern for LA against the Nuggets, who had 12 fewer FG attempts than the Lakers in the previous meeting but shot 52% and had 18 more made free throws on 16 more attempts from the charity stripe.

Picks

Spread: Los Angeles Lakers (+2.5)
Over/Under: Under (244.0)