Lakers vs Nuggets Preview: Russell on High
The Lakers will roll into Denver to face the Nuggets with D’Angelo Russell coming off of the best game of his rookie season
The tank derailed a bit on Tuesday night with D’Angelo Russell at the helm as the rookie point guard led the Los Angeles Lakers to victory with a masterful performance against the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers will now go on the road on Wednesday night to the Pepsi Center with hopes that Russell can replicate that type of performance.
More from Lake Show Life
- Darvin Ham adds to Max Christie hype train after Lakers preseason opener
- Is LeBron James playing tonight? Latest Lakers vs Warriors update
- Can Darvin Ham put all of the Lakers puzzle pieces together?
- Lakers news: Darvin Ham knows his fifth starter, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino praise
- Michael Malone’s painfully ironic comment has Lakers fans heated
It’s no real secret at this point that the goal of the Lakers at this point isn’t to win basketball games and more just to see the young guys like Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle—the latter two players also shined against the Nets on Tuesday night—grow together as a cohesive unit that the organization can continue to build around for the future.
Even more so than ending a losing streak and earning a victory, the best part of Russell’s 39-point explosion against Brooklyn was the fact that it almost entirely validated the Lakers using the No. 2-overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft on him. Russell has faced intense scrutiny from fans, Byron Scott, and many others this season, but how he performed for his 35 minutes on the floor and in the clutch with the game on the line put into perspective the immense talent and upside that the 20-year-old guard has.
As for the matchup with the Nuggets, the Lakers will be without Lou Williams as he injured his hamstring on Tuesday night, which should allow Russell and Clarkson to shine with heavy minutes in the backcourt. The Nuggets aren’t healthy by any stretch either as they’ll still be without Danilo Gallinari for this matchup and could be without Kenneth Faried at power forward and Jameer Nelson in the backcourt as well.
However, Kobe Bryant will return to the lineup for the Lakers on Wednesday night (more than likely he will, at least) and you have to wonder how that will affect the offense. Moreover, the struggling Lakers defense having to play someone other than the Nets is less than favorable. All that fans can really hope for is that the young core still has the chance to shine with Kobe back—and if the tank gets back on course, so be it.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets
Date: Wednesday, March 2
Start Time: 6 p.m. PT
Location: Denver, CO
Arena: Pepsi Center
TV Info: TWC Sportsnet
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Radio: Here
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Nuggets -7
Moneyline: Nuggets -315, Lakers +250
O/U: 212
Injury Report
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant (shoulder)—Probable, Larry Nance Jr. (knee)—Out, Lou Williams (hamstring)—Out
Denver Nuggets: Kenneth Faried (back)—Questionable, Emmanuel Mudiay (calf)—Probable, Jameer Nelson (wrist)—Questionable, Danilo Gallinari (ankle)—Out, Wilson Chandler (hip)—Out
Next: WATCH: D'Angelo Russell Lights Up Nets for 39 Points in Win
Prediction
Though Russell’s enormous night on Tuesday has fans feeling great, let’s not forget that the win came against another terrible team in the Nets. Against a slightly tougher opponent in the Nuggets, I like Russell and Clarkson to come up big again with Lou out, but the result to be less favorable (unless, you know, you want to keep the tank driving forward).
73. 108. 20. Final. 113
Make sure that you keep in touch with Lake Show Life for all of your Lakers news, updates, analysis and more.