Lakers-Nuggets Game 2: Preview, Props & Prediction
Mon Apr 22 2:48pm ET
Field Level Media
The Los Angeles Lakers got a fast start from LeBron James, a double-double from Anthony Davis and held Denver to just six free-throw attempts in Game 1 on Saturday.
Yet they still lost by double digits to the reigning NBA champions.
After surviving the James-Davis duo for the 114-103 victory to open the Western Conference first-round series, the Nuggets will try to preserve their home-court edge in Game 2 on Monday night.
TRENDING
Denver is a consensus 7.5-point favorite ahead of Game 2. The line opened at 6.5 points at BetMGM, but shifted a full point with the Nuggets backed by 72 percent of the spread-line total. They have also been backed by 65 percent of the money on the same number at BetRivers.
The Over/Under has stayed steady at 223.5 points at BetMGM, where the Under has drawn 54 percent of the money. Meanwhile, the slightly lower 223.0 total at BetRivers has seen 64 percent of the money back the Over.
Prediction: Desperation time is quickly approaching for the Lakers, who don't want to return home down 0-2 in the series. That may well still happen, but look for Los Angeles to put up a strong 48-minute battle and make Denver work for it. --Nuggets 112, Lakers 109
PROP PICK
Austin Reaves Over 22.5 Points/Rebounds/Assists: This has been the most popular player prop for Game 2 at both sportsbooks, with BetMGM reporting 99 percent of the bets backing the Over at -130 while BetRivers has seen 2.4 percent of all player prop money wagers on the game backing this one at -122.
Reaves had only 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting in Game 1 to go along with four rebounds and three assists. He has averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game (25.7 average total) on the season.
KEY STAT
Denver has beaten Los Angeles nine straight times, dating to the final regular-season game between them in 2022-23.
THE NEWS
Los Angeles didn't have an answer in Game 1 for Nikola Jokic, who finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, despite throwing multiple looks at him.
Rui Hachimura started out defending Jokic, Davis and James also spent time guarding him and the Lakers tried doubling him, but nothing worked. Jokic had no turnovers and two steals in his 39 minutes and was 15-for-23 from the field.
Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham said after the loss there were adjustments he didn't use Saturday night that he will try.
"We didn't want to go too deep into the in-game adjustments. It's still that ultimate chess game," he said. "So we were comfortable with the results. ... If we need to go back to it, it's there."
The Lakers could use more from their bench, which was outscored 17-11 in Game 1, with all of Los Angeles' points coming from Taurean Prince. Getting Christian Wood back from a knee injury would help, especially patrolling the paint, but he isn't expected to return until the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 Thursday night.
The Nuggets don't need to fix much other than getting off to a faster start and hitting more shots. Among the starters, only Michael Porter Jr. (8 of 15) and Jokic hit more than 50 percent of their shots, with Jamal Murray going 9-for-24 from the field, but he still managed to put up 22 points and 10 assists.
"Not just me -- I think we'll all shoot better next game," Murray said.
One thing Denver did well Saturday night -- and in the past five playoff games against Los Angeles -- is contain the Lakers' role players. James and Davis combined for 59 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists in Game 1, but the rest of the team had little impact.
D'Angelo Russell again struggled against the Nuggets' defense, shooting 1-for-9 from 3-point range and 6-for-20 overall in scoring 13 points. It was a continuation of last year's postseason, when Denver swept Los Angeles in the Western Conference finals. Russell was 2-for-15 from long range in the four games and was benched later in Game 4.
The Nuggets can expect a bounce-back game from the Lakers, and a more aggressive James. After scoring 19 points in the first half on Saturday, he had just eight in the second half and didn't attempt a shot in the fourth quarter until the final 1:20.
THEY SAID IT
Denver is impressed at what James is doing in his 21st NBA season.
"I'm 21 years old. He's been playing for as long as I've been alive. I definitely tried to talk to him a little bit, get a feel for him." --Nuggets forward Peyton Watson on James.
- Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis (calf) focused on playoff return
- Mavericks F Maxi Kleber (shoulder) out at least 3 weeks
- Magic's Gary Harris to play in Game 7, Cavs' Jarrett Allen uncertain
- Bulls G Lonzo Ball picks up $21.3M option
- Former Lakers pick, PG Darius Morris dies at 33
- Mavericks F Maxi Kleber (shoulder) out indefinitely
- Lakers G D'Angelo Russell fined $25K for verbal abuse
- LeBron James favored to stay with Lakers as potential suitors emerge
- Lakers fire head coach Darvin Ham after 2 seasons
- Clippers F Kawhi Leonard (knee) out for Game 6 vs. Mavs
- Bucks' Damian Lillard upgraded to questionable for Game 6
- Bulls G Alex Caruso collects NBA's Hustle Award
- Sixers owners buy up tickets to block Knicks fans
- Wolves coach Chris Finch expected to be in Denver with team
- Kristaps Porzingis (calf) to miss rest of Heat series
- LeBron James Next Team Odds: Stephen Curry pairing in future?
- Bucks' Doc Rivers: Giannis, Dame 'very, very, very close' to return
- Minnesota's Mike Conley wins 2nd Teammate of Year award
- NBA roundup: 76ers fend off Knicks in OT, keep season alive
- Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard out for Game 5
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) returned to practice on Sunday. The veteran sniper got hurt in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Clippers, spraining his right ankle. Dallas had no trouble finishing off the Clippers in six games, but Hardaway Jr. will make a welcome return if he's ready to go for the second round against the Thunder on Tuesday. The 32-year-old was among the league's most prolific bench scorers in the regular season, averaging 14.4 points in 26.6 minutes.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Maxi Kleber (shoulder) will be re-evaluated in three weeks. He was initially expected to miss the rest of the postseason after Kleber suffered a separated shoulder in Friday's first-round clincher against the Clippers. It now looks like Kleber could be back for the Western Conference Finals if Dallas gets past Oklahoma City in the second round. In the meantime, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II will share the frontcourt minutes. The Thunder have struggled in the rebounding department this season, putting the three in a position to have a productive series.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (calf) is questionable for Monday's matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although the 27-year-old managed to suit up for Game 1 on Saturday night, it appears the calf injury impacted his play. He finished that one with 17 points, a significant decline from his scoring contributions in the previous series versus the Lakers. In all fairness, the rest of the roster struggled, so Murray and company could turn things around in Game 2.
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) remains on the injury report ahead of Game 1 of the second-round series against the Knicks. He landed on the report ahead of Game 4 against Milwaukee in the first round with lower back spasms. However, Haliburton didn't have any trouble playing through the issue, suggesting he will be good to go for the series opener against the Knicks on Monday. Indiana's young star has been a bit inconsistent with his postseason performances, registering 16.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 9.3 assists with poor 29.6 percent shooting from deep.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley played much better on Sunday in the postseason win over Orlando. Mobley had trouble offensively in Game 6, finishing with three points. However, he turned things around in Game 7 to help his team advance to the semi-finals, amassing an 11-point, 16-rebound double-double. Mobley wasn't as impactful on the scoring end during the seven-game series versus the Magic. But he shined on the defensive end, amassing 23 blocks. The Cavs will take Monday off before starting the series with the Celtics on Tuesday night. Mobley met Boston just once during the regular season, only scoring four points. While he should play better, the entire roster could struggle throughout the series.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs struggled in Sunday's loss to the Cavaliers. The 22-year-old had one of his best offensive performances in Game 6, finishing with 22 points. However, he fizzled in Game 7, ending the afternoon with only 10 points off 2-for-14 shooting from the field. Although Suggs added nine boards, four assists, and one steal, he had five turnovers. But overall, Suggs showed signs of growth during the 2023-24 campaign and finished by averaging a career-high 12.6 points. He also shot 39.7% from deep, a significant upgrade from last season. While constructing the roster around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner is the team's priority moving ahead, Suggs should hold a stable spot in the rotation.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner struggled in Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 22-year-old had 26 points in the Game 6 win on Friday night. However, he fizzled on Sunday, ending the afternoon with just six points off 1-for-15 shooting from the field. He had struggled on the road during this series, but his performance in Game 7 couldn't have gone much worse. With Orlando done, the team can make moves this offseason. But the roster should continue to be built around Wagner and Paolo Banchero, with both players expected to improve even more in 2024-25.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero finished with a massive double-double in Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had a team-high 38 points and 16 rebounds, adding three steals and one block. Unfortunately, his stellar performance wasn't enough to lead his team to the win. With the Magic now eliminated from the postseason after seven hard-fought contests with the Cavs, Orlando will look to improve the roster during the offseason. With that said, the club will remain constructed around Banchero, who showed signs of growth in his second season in the league by averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. Although his shooting numbers could use some work, he'll likely improve in 2024-25, raising his stock in category formats.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell led his team to a series-clinching win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. He had 50 points in Game 6 on Friday night. While the 27-year-old wasn't as impactful on the scoring end in this one, he still finished with 39 points and added nine rebounds, five assists, one block, and one steal. Mitchell and company will get a day off on Monday before meeting the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night to begin the semi-finals. He played well against the C's during the regular season, averaging 30.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. However, the Cavs could struggle as a whole, meaning it could be difficult for Mitchell to stay as productive.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (rib) is questionable heading into Sunday's pivotal matchup with the Orlando Magic. The 26-year-old has averaged 17.0 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks during this series. However, a rib contusion prevented him from suiting up for the team's last two contests. With the series tied at three games each, the Cavaliers certainly hope to get Allen back for Game 7. But if he can't play, Marcus Morris Sr. and Isaac Okoro could get more work, although neither player is a reliable DFS contributor.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray had 17 points in Saturday's playoff loss to the Timberwolves. He added four assists and one rebound. The 27-year-old had trouble finding his rhythm in this one. But to be fair, his teammates didn't play much better, with Nikola Jokic going 11-for-25 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep. Murray averaged 17.3 points, 7.7 assists, and shot 53.8% from behind the three-point line in three meetings with Minnesota during the regular season. With that in mind, he has an excellent chance of bouncing back in Game 2 on Monday night.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic finished with 32 points in Saturday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He added nine assists, eight rebounds, and three steals. While the multi-time MVP nearly had a triple-double, he had issues finding the bottom of the net in Game 1, shooting 11-for-25 from the field and 2-for-9 from deep. He also had seven turnovers. The Timberwolves did a fantastic job preventing Jokic from getting comfortable. With that in mind, head coach Mike Malone will make adjustments heading into Game 2 on Monday evening, so Jokic should play better.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards led his team to a win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. He had 43 points, a postseason career-high, and added seven rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. The 22-year-old played well during the regular season. However, Edwards has played at a higher level, averaging 33.4 points while shooting 43.6% from behind the three-point line in his five playoff appearances. With the Timberwolves now leading the series, the Nuggets will try to knot things up on Monday night. As usual, expect Edwards to be featured in plenty of DFS lineups.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Maxi Kleber (shoulder) is sidelined indefinitely and could miss the remainder of the postseason. The 32-year-old exited Friday's series-clinching win over the Los Angeles Clippers because of a shoulder injury. Unfortunately, an MRI revealed an AC joint dislocation. Kleber averaged a career-low 4.4 points and 3.3 rebounds this season. However, he still had a valuable role in head coach Jason Kidd's rotation. But with Kleber out of the mix, Dereck Lively II, who had 10 points, nine rebounds, and one steal in Game 6, should see more work off the bench behind Daniel Gafford.
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) exercised his $21.4 million option for the 2024-25 campaign. This was expected, especially since the 2017 No. 2 overall pick has been sidelined by a left knee injury for over two years. During his time away, he's undergone three surgeries to address the issue, including a cartilage transplant. Ball most recently played 35 games for the Bulls after being traded by the Pelicans and posted some of his best numbers, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting a career-high 42.3% from behind the arc. With that said, the 26-year-old doesn't have a return date. But even if he gets back on the floor at some point, it could take him a while to work his way up to full speed. The risk of re-injury and potential decreased production will also be factors for fantasy managers to consider, even if there is a positive update regarding his health at some point in the next few months.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley struggled in Friday's loss to Orlando. The 2021 No. 3 overall pick had a stellar night on Tuesday, so expectations were high entering this one. Unfortunately, he couldn't get anything going offensively, ending the contest with just three points off 1-for-5 shooting from the field. Mobley at least had seven rebounds and five blocks. But it was still a subpar effort from the 22-year-old, who had added responsibility due to the absence of Jarrett Allen (rib). At any rate, Mobley has had a double-double in two of his three appearances on his home court during this series, meaning he has an excellent chance to turn things around on Sunday afternoon for Game 7.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland played well in Friday's loss to Orlando. The 24-year-old scored 21 points, finishing second on his team in scoring behind Donovan Mitchell, who had 50. He added six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Garland struggled during the first four games of the series. However, he's now combined for 44 points in the last two contests. While the 2019 No. 5 overall pick has lost the trust of some DFS managers, he deserves fantasy consideration for Game 7 on Sunday, primarily since Orlando will likely focus on keeping Mitchell from having another explosive performance.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell had a game-high 50 points in Friday's postseason meeting with Orlando. However, his efforts weren't enough, as the Magic earned the win to extend the series. The 27-year-old continues to deal with an ailing knee. But after a few unimpressive showings during this round, Mitchell got his act together in Game 6. With the series knotted at three games each, both clubs will head back to Cleveland for Game 7 on Sunday. Mitchell has played well on his home turf throughout this series, averaging 27 points. Yet, the Magic will likely focus on slowing him down, meaning he may not be as productive as he was on Friday evening.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (leg) was seen at shootaround ahead of Friday's Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. Mann is listed as questionable heading into this game due to a right leg contusion. The fact Mann was seen at shootaround is a good sign heading into Friday's game. The team will likely wait to see how Mann feels during pregame warmups before making a final decision. His absence would likely mean increased playing time for Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (ribs) remains listed as questionable for Friday night's Game 6 against the Orlando Magic. The big man was spotted at shootaround on Friday morning but his level of participation is unclear. He was unable to play in Game 5 on Tuesday due to the rib contusion, so it seems like he'll be a game-time decision in this potential series-clinching game. DFS managers will want to check back when it gets closer to tipoff since his presence usually means a bit of a value hit to Evan Mobley when it comes to rebounds and defensive stats.