Lakers vs. Nuggets Preview: Can LA take the fifth seed?

The Lakers (37-24) are back on the road for a quick trip to Denver, where they will take on the Nuggets (38-24) on Thursday. This is the second matchup between both teams this season.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

When: 7 p.m. PT, Mar 5

Where: Ball Arena

Watch: Prime Video, Spectrum Sportsnet

The Lakers have made up for their most recent losing streak by winning three games in a row and just like that, they have the chance to climb up the competitive Western Conference standings.

Although to do that, the purple and gold will really have to work for it against a Nuggets team that’s consistently been sitting at the top of the conference all season.

It’s hard to imagine the Nuggets not going all out on this one. Not only is the fifth seed on the line, but there’s a good chance they still remember how they gave the game away against the Lakers last time. In that contest, Denver dominated the first half only to choke away the lead in the final quarter.

In fairness to them, they didn’t have Nikola Jokić in that one, which won’t be the case for Thursday’s game.

Regardless, this is still a winnable one for the Lakers. Yes, it’s going to be tough to contain Jokić, but it’s also not like the Nuggets have had an answer for Luka Dončić since he became a Laker.

It’s going to be a battle between these two superstars, and it’ll be important for LeBron James, Austin Reaves and the rest of the Lakers’ role players to outperform the Nuggets’ supporting cast. That’s a doable task as well, since Aaron Gordon won’t be around, but Jamal Murray will, and he’s a player the Lakers can’t allow to get hot.

Like the Lakers, the Nuggets aren’t a great defensive team. In fact, they rank 21st in the league, just above the Lakers, who are at 22. They also don’t have a deep bench and depend a little too much on Jokić and Murray to pull through for them.

This game will be the first night of a back-to-back for the Lakers, who fly straight to Los Angeles afterwards to host the Indiana Pacers.

Let’s see if the Lakers can win this big game against Denver and gain some ground in the West.

Notes and Updates

• Since Luka’s arrival in Los Angeles, the Lakers are 3-1 against the Nuggets. When Dončić plays, they’re 3-0.
• For the Lakers’ injury report, Maxi Kleber (back soreness) is listed as questionable.
• As for the Nuggets, Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), Payton Watson (right hamstring strain) and Spencer Jones (right shoulder strain) are out.
• Cameron Johnson (right ankle) is questionable.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.