Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets: Game 30 preview

The Los Angeles Lakers return home to face the Denver Nuggets and we have all the information you need to enjoy the game!

The Los Angeles Lakers ended their road trip on a low note, losing the last two games to the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. It is the first losing streak of the season for the Lakers, but they are hoping that the return home to the STAPLES Center can help them get back on track.

The return home will not be easy, though. While the Lakers come into the game on a losing streak, their opponent comes in with positive momentum.

Los Angeles will host a hot Denver Nuggets team that has won five straight games, which follows a stretch in which they lost five of six games.

This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. The first meeting at the Pepsi Center was won by the Lakers, 105-96. A big reason for the victory was the Lakers’ frontcourt being able to hold Nikola Jokic in check, but Jokic comes into this game playing some great basketball.

Jokic has found his groove during this recent winning streak. In the first meeting, he scored 13 points with five rebounds, eight assists and five turnovers. He has easily surpassed those numbers during the Nuggets’ winning streak.

In the last five games, Jokic has registered two triple-doubles. He has scored at least 18 points in all five games and pulled down double-digit rebounds in all but one of the contests. He has double-digit assists in three of the games as well, as he is averaging an impressive 22.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and nine assists per game.

While the Nuggets star is coming into the game playing well, the Lakers look like they will be without one of their stars.

LeBron James is doubtful to suit up against the Nuggets as he deals with a thoracic muscle strain and a nagging groin injury. A groin injury is what led to James missing the most consecutive games of his career last season. Hopefully, this injury isn’t as serious and James can return to the court as soon as possible.

Luckily for the Lakers, they have another star in Anthony Davis. As long as one of Davis or James is on the court, they have a shot to win.

Unfortunately, Davis is nursing some injuries of his own, as he injured his ankle against the Atlanta Hawks and missed the game against the Pacers. He suited up against the Bucks, but the ailments are piling up for Davis and we aren’t even at Christmas Day yet.

If the Lakers are going to get back in the win column, they are going to need some of their role players to step up in a big way. Role players usually perform better at home, so luckily for the Lakers, this game will be played in the friendly confines of the STAPLES Center.

Will the Lakers be able to pick up a victory without their leader in James? Or will the Nuggets exact some revenge and get a victory on the Lakers’ homecourt after they were defeated on theirs earlier this season?

You will have to tune in to find out! Luckily, we have all the information you need to enjoy the game.