Brace yourself for a Western Conference showdown as the Los Angeles Lakers travel to the Mile High City to battle the Denver Nuggets tomorrow, live at 10:00 AM on NBA TV Philippines (available on Smart GigaPlay app and Cignal TV).
The match will already be eagerly anticipated by many but it becomes extra significant because of the potential playoff implications a win may bring. The Nuggets are currently in 6th place with a 21-19 record, while the Lakers are not far behind in 7th at 21-21.
This will be the Lakers and Nuggets’ first matchup this season and whichever team can win the head-to-head record will own the tiebreaker, which down the road could be the difference-maker between a guaranteed playoff spot and having to duke it out in the Play-In Tournament.
Both teams have had mediocre starts to the season due to inconsistency stemming from a combination of injuries and COVID-related absences. However, the Lakers and Nuggets will have their respective superstars at their disposal as LeBron James and Nikola Jokic will both be available for the showdown.
James has been sensational as of late, scoring 30 or more points in 11 of his last 12 games. Because of the lack of frontcourt depth, James has been playing some center for the Lakers, which has proven to be an excellent adjustment for the most part.
However, his teammates will need to pick up the slack to arrest their two-game skid, with the latest loss coming against the Sacramento Kings. Finding out how to utilize Russell Westbrook properly should be their most concerning issue right now. The former MVP only tallied eight points on 2-of-14 shooting in the loss to the Kings.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, have been buoyed by another spectacular MVP-caliber season from Jokic, who is averaging 25.5 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per contest.
He has been steadying the ship despite not having talented teammates in Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray for most of the season. In the team’s 140-108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Jokic had ample support from Will Barton, who had a team-high 21 points in the big victory.
Which superstar can lead his team to victory? Which supporting cast will show up? We’ll find out tomorrow.
