The Los Angeles Lakers seem to be begging for the playoffs to come, so they can finally play in games that really matter.
The Denver Nuggets share the same sentiment, but at least they are having more success than the Lakers, so far in the Bubble.
The Lakers are just 2-4 since the restart, while the Nuggets are 3-2. Catch this game live on Tuesday at 9 AM (Manila time).
HOME TEAM: Los Angeles Lakers (51-18, 24-9at home)
The Lakers are the latest team to get TJ Warren-ed. With TJ Warren doing TJ Warren things and Lakers star Anthony Davis not playing like himself on Sunday, the Lakers ended up absorbing a 116-111 loss at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers have now lost three games in a row. They also failed to beat the spread in all those games.
Davis played heavy minutes against Indiana, but those were 35 disappointing minutes, as he came up with mere 8 points, hitting just 3 of 14 shots. Maybe playing the Nuggets will get Davis going again. In three games against Denver this season, the former No. 1 overall pick has averaged 30.0 points on 53.1 FG% and 10.3 rebounds.
One thing about the Lakers is that they are always a suspect to rest their key players in virtually meaningless games like the one they’ll play on Tuesday. If Davis will be rested, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard will likely split the gig at the frontcourt for the Lakers, who are scoring 11.4 points per game in the Bubble.
ROAD TEAM: Denver Nuggets (46-24, 20-14 on the road)
Unlike the Lakers, the Nuggets got great scoring production from their own former Kentucky Wildcat in their 134-132 overtime win over the Utah Jazz. Playing in his first game in the Bubble, Jamal Murray balled out and scattered 23 points and added 12 rebounds and 8 assists in 39 minutes on the floor. Murray previously dealt with a hamstring issue, but he’s obviously obliterated any concerns about that with his performance against the Jazz.
Murray’s brilliance still wasn’t enough to shadow Michael Porter Jr.’s continuing ascent to the top of the Nuggets’ pecking order on offense. Porter had 23 points and 11 rebounds against the Jazz, and he’s now averaging 25.6 points in 5 games down in Orlando. Porter will provide additional defensive headaches for the Lakers, who didn’t face this version of Porter in the past.
Look for the Nuggets to push the pace against the Lakers. Denver outscored the Lakers in transition in the team’s 128-104 win last December. That kind of bad fast break defense remains a problem for the Lakers, who are allowing the third-most fast break points per game in Orlando.
PREDICTIONS:
The Nuggets are seeing other players outside of Nikola Jokic step up, while the Lakers are too dependent on Anthony Davis and LeBron James. We are taking the Nuggets to win here, 120-115.
