The Los Angeles Lakers sit No. 6 in the West, just a game and a half back from the Nuggets, who are 3-4 since their return from the All-Star break. Denver has a tough remaining schedule for the rest of the season, as in the toughest in the league (literally), which includes two matchups against LA in the next two weeks. You should get where I'm going with this.
The Nuggets have been in a sort of freefall for the past few weeks, even after Nikola Jokić returned from a 16-game absence with a hyperextended knee. They're still without two key players — Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson (soon-to-be Laker?) — both of whom could return sometime in the next week. It doesn't seem like either will return soon enough to face the Lakers on Thursday, though.
Of course, Los Angeles' focus isn't on derailing Denver's season, as the Lakers are taking each game one at a time, trying to stay in the top six themselves. As a result, they can knock the Nuggets closer to the No. 7 Suns, who should have Devin Booker back in the lineup this week.
After what Denver has done to LA the past few years, it'd be nice to get a little revenge in the form of the Nuggets falling into play-in territory.
Lakers will play the Nuggets twice in the next two weeks
The unfortunate news for LA is that Jamal Murray exists, and for whatever reason, when he plays the Lakers, he suddenly turns into the best player in the league. Added pressure doesn't seem to bother him, either. You've seen what he can do in the playoffs, so the danger of slipping down the standings shouldn't bother him.
Denver is more than Murray, though. Without Watson (and Spencer Jones), the team's depth is nonexistent. Cam Johnson can't hit a shot, as he shot 0-of-6 against the Timberwolves in their loss on Sunday. Jokić is still putting up numbers, but his efficiency has been up-and-down, and he's struggling with turnovers.
The Lakers have been on their own rollercoaster full of issues this season, and they need to make sure they can stay on the right track and finish in the top six. They've taken care of business in their last two games, and their remaining schedule favors them, ranking 24th in the league.
Los Angeles is 1-0 against Denver this season and has won three of its last four matchups against the Nuggets, dating back to last year. Why not keep that momentum going down the final stretch of the season, having some fun in the process?