Lakers vs Nuggets Preview: Closing In On the End
The Lakers welcome the Nuggets to STAPLES Center as they to figure out their direction at the end of the season
There are only 11 games remaining in the 2015-16 NBA season, which is certainly a bittersweet notion for the Los Angeles Lakers. On one hand, it’s a merciful end to a tumultuous season that has been rough for fans to suffer through on more than one occasion and the end moves moving one step closer to what could be a bright future. On the other hand, that means that there are only 11 games remaining in Kobe Bryant’s NBA career. On Friday night, he’ll suit up one final time against the Denver Nuggets at STAPLES Center.
Kobe is listed as probable for this matchup and, given how driven he’s been to play as of late, it feels almost certain that he’s going to try and take the floor for every game from here on out. While that’s refreshing that fans get to see the Lakers legend a few final times, it’s still an odd feeling to realize that this is the end.
But at the same time that there is a bit of reflection that comes with these being the last moments with Kobe Bryant on the Lakers, this matchup against the Nuggets is also a glimpse into the future of the franchise and the league. Both teams boast highly talented rookie point guards in D’Angelo Russell for the Lakers and Emmanuel Mudiay for the Nuggets, both of whom were taken in the lottery of the 2015 NBA Draft.
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The matchup between Russell and Mudiay is certainly highly intriguing as the debate between which player has the higher upside moving forward has worn on from draft time and throughout most of the season. Though most would agree that Russell has shown that he has the edge in that regard, it doesn’t dissipate the intrigue of watching both young point guards square off at the end of their first season in the league.
Seeing if the Lakers’ young players can still build a suitable core for the future of the organization is still in the forefront of fans’ minds, but it’s a bit conflicting given that it’s also the end of Kobe’s illustrious career. It’s a strange time for everyone in Los Angeles. However, wanting to see the young players shine and also see just one more classic Kobe Bryant moment isn’t too much to ask, is it? Maybe it is, but it feels safe to say that’s what everyone will be watching and hoping for on Friday night against Denver.
Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers
Date: Friday, March 25
Start Time: 7:30 PT
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Arena: STAPLES Center
TV Info: TWC Sportsnet
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Radio: Here
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Nuggets -3
Moneyline: Nuggets -160, Lakers +140
O/U: 214
Injury Report
Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Brown (foot)—Out, Kobe Bryant (shoulder)—Questionable, Ryan Kelly (wrist)—Doubtful, Larry Nance Jr. (knee)—Probable, D’Angelo Russell (shin)–Probable
Denver Nuggets: Joffrey Lauvergne (sinus wall fracture)—Probable, Jusuf Nurkic (knee)—Probable, Jakarr Sampson (shoulder)—Probable, Kenneth Faried (back)—Questionable, Danilo Gallinari (ankle)—Out, Wilson Chandler (hip)—Out
Next: WATCH: Suns Give Kobe Amazing Video Tribute
Prediction
Not that results totally matter at this point in the season as the Lakers are almost surely going to be among the bottom-three teams in the NBA Draft Lottery, but their 4-7 record in the month of March is at least a sign for cautious optimism in Los Angeles. Given that cautious optimism, I see this game being quite close, but the Lakers young players and potentially even Kobe as well pulling the Lakers ahead and earning a second-straight win.