2023 marked a breakthrough for Denver as they managed to defeat the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.
Follow Us
Back in 1985, the Denver Nuggets met the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. The same thing happened in 2009 and 2020, and both times the Lakers eliminated the Nuggets. However, 2023 marked a breakthrough for Denver as they managed to defeat the Lakers in the Western Conference finals and went on to secure the franchise’s first NBA championship.
The Lakers will now have a chance for redemption as they take on the Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Nuggets will be hosting the first game against the seventh-seeded Los Angeles team on Saturday night. Game 2 will take place on Monday night in the same city.
In the last eight matchups, the Nuggets have secured victory against the Lakers, which also includes a sweep in the Western Conference finals. Moreover, they have managed to beat the Lakers in all three encounters this year by an average margin of 10 points. Despite being the favorites to defeat LeBron James and Anthony Davis yet again, the Nuggets players anticipate a challenging series ahead.
For the Lakers, Hood-Schifino and Wood will not be playing the game. Besides, Reddish and Vanderbilt are questionable for the game. As for the Nuggets, Cancar and Gillespie might miss this one out.
Last year’s playoff series produced very close matches, with only Denver’s 119-108 victory in Game 3 being decided by a double-digit margin. However, the circumstances aren’t the same this time around.
Meeting in the first round means the Los Angeles team is considerably more rested. In 2023, the Lakers had endured two six-game series and a play-in game before facing a Nuggets team that had cruised through their first two rounds.
Another consideration is the roster changes. Last season, Denver’s bench featured veterans Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. However, this year, the reserves are younger, displaying less consistency but greater athleticism. Head coach Michael Malone navigated through the developmental stages with Peyton Watson and Christian Braun, who gradually became more dependable contributors.
During the offseason, the Lakers acquired Gabe Vincent, but a knee injury restricted him to just 11 games in the regular season. However, he made a comeback to the lineup in late March, bringing with him strong perimeter defense and accurate 3-point shooting. Vincent notably excelled in guarding Nuggets guard Jamal Murray during the NBA Finals last year and is expected to match up against Murray at various points throughout the series.
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
