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.
- Diminished prize: NBA draft lottery holds modest value
- Pacers coach Rick Carlisle fined $35K for ripping officials
- Suns to hire Mike Budenholzer as head coach
- Knicks F OG Anunoby (hamstring) to miss Game 3 vs. Pacers
- Suns fire Frank Vogel after one season, first-round playoff exit
- Glen 'Big Baby' Davis sentenced to 40 months in prison
- NBA suspends Patrick Beverley 4 games
- Karl-Anthony Towns named NBA's Social Justice Champion
- Pacers file complaint about officiating vs. Knicks
- Hornets hire Charles Lee as head coach
- Jamal Murray takes 'full responsibility' for Game 2 incident
- Police investigating altercation between Bucks G Patrick Beverley, fan
- Nuggets star Nikola Jokic wins MVP for third time in four seasons
- Bucks F Thanasis Antetokounmpo tears Achilles
- Knicks lose C Mitchell Robinson (ankle) at least 6-8 weeks
- NBA report: One key call correct, one wrong in Pacers' loss
- Rudy Gobert named Defensive Player of Year for 4th time
- Cavs C Jarrett Allen questionable for Game 1 vs. Celtics
- Wolves coach rips Jamal Murray for tossing heating pad on floor
- Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama voted unanimous Rookie of the Year
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't pull out a win over the other candidate who was up for the NBA MVP award this year. He did, however, put up the most points out of anyone who played in Game 2. He ended with 33 points on 13-for-24 shooting from the floor and 1-for-3 from three. On top of that, Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in 12 rebounds, eight assists, one steal, two blocks, and two turnovers. In the midst of the third playoff run in his career, Gilgeous-Alexander has seen increases in almost every stat across the board except for three-point shooting.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic was close to another triple-double while leading the team to a win on the road in Game 2 which tied the series up 1-to-1. While he may have missed out on his first MVP, he didn't let that get in the way of a big road performance. Doncic posted 29 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, one block, and one turnover. He also shot 11-for-21 from the floor and 5-for-8 from deep. With the series shifting back to Dallas for the next two games, Doncic will look to build on this momentum against an inexperienced Thunder squad.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington was tied for the team lead in points during their Game 2 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. The former Hornet registered 29 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block while shooting 11-for-18 from the floor and a red-hot 7-for-11 from downtown. This is why the Mavericks made the move to bring in his services, they've needed a third scorer who can also provide defense in the frontcourt. Washington has given them spurts of brilliance while staying solid most of the way through his Dallas tenure. Through the first playoff run of his career so far, Washington is averaging 13.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown had 19 points in Thursday's loss to Cleveland. He added four rebounds and one assist. The 27-year-old erupted in Game 1 on Tuesday, finishing with 32 points. However, he cooled off in this one, shooting 7-for-17 from the field while missing all six attempts from behind the three-point line. In all fairness, most of the C's starting lineup struggled in Game 2. Fortunately, Brown should turn things around, meaning he remains a top DFS option for Game 3 on Saturday night.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum had a team-high 25 points in Thursday's loss to the Cavaliers. He added seven rebounds, six assists, and one steal. The former Duke Blue Devil had only 18 points in Game 1. While he played better in this one, his efforts weren't enough to lead Boston to a win. Nonetheless, Tatum should bounce back offensively sometime soon, so DFS managers should keep him on the radar for Game 3 on Saturday night.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell finished with a game-high 29 points in Thursday's win over the Celtics. He added eight assists and seven boards while shooting an efficient 5-for-7 from deep. The 2017 No. 13 overall pick had 33 points in the Game 1 loss to the C's on Tuesday. While he wasn't as productive in this one, fantasy managers were still happy with the outcome. Mitchell and company will return to Cleveland to host Boston for Game 3 on Saturday night. DFS participants should expect him to continue to log heavy minutes, assuming his nagging knee injury allows him.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley had a big game in Thursday's win over the Celtics. The 22-year-old has struggled offensively during the postseason. However, he finished with 21 points in Game 2, a postseason career-high, to help the Cavs knot the series at one game each. With Jarrett Allen (rib) out of the lineup, Mobley continues to do all he can to keep things secure underneath the basket. Although he isn't a consistent scorer, he'll at least routinely accumulate blocks and rebounds for DFS managers for the remainder of the playoffs.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Reggie Jackson (calf) is questionable for Friday's playoff meeting with the Timberwolves. The veteran has a calf contusion. However, with Jamal Murray (calf) also battling a calf issue of his own, Jackson should be out there for Game 3. With that said, he's averaged only four points in this series, so DFS managers should look for other options.
Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (abdomen) is questionable for Friday's matchup with Minnesota. The Nuggets are down two games in this series, so the abdominal contusion likely won't be enough to keep him out of the lineup. While KCP has logged heavy minutes during the playoffs, he averaged just 8.4 points in the previous series versus the Lakers. Caldwell-Pope has played worse against the Timberwolves, so he's not a recommended DFS option for Game 3 and beyond, although he can get hot whenever he's on the floor.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (calf) is back on the injury report for Friday's postseason matchup with the Timberwolves. He's been battling a left calf strain, although he has played through it during the postseason. However, it's clear the ailment continues to bother the 27-year-old, considering he's averaged only 12.5 points throughout the series with Minnesota. With that said, Murray will likely be out there for Game 3. Yet, the injury could continue to cause him to struggle, making him a risky DFS option..
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) is questionable for Friday's meeting with the Knicks. He had just six points in the series opener on Monday. As a result, head coach Rick Carlisle addressed reporters heading into Game 2, indicating Haliburton's back injury was a cause of concern. However, the 24-year-old turned things around on Wednesday night, finishing with a team-high 34 points, adding nine assists, six boards, and three steals. He also shot an efficient 7-for-11 from behind the arc. With that in mind, Haliburton should be out there for Game 3. Unfortunately, he hasn't been a consistent DFS option during the postseason, so fantasy managers may look for other options.
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (foot) is considered questionable for Friday's Game 3 of the second-round series against the Pacers. The Knicks leader injured his right foot on Wednesday in Game 2. He was able to finish the game, but the questionable tag leaves his status iffy for Friday's contest. If he's out, Miles McBride would get a big opportunity to impress as Brunson's replacement in the starting unit. The 23-year-old posted 17.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals as a starter during the regular season.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday's Game 3 against the Pacers. He suffered a hamstring strain in Game 2 on Wednesday. Despite the injury, Anunoby managed to post his new playoff career high with 28 points in 28 minutes. He's also an outstanding defender, and Anunoby's injury is definitely a big blow for the Knicks, who have gone 26-5 with him in the lineup since acquiring the versatile forward from Toronto. Precious Achiuwa and Alec Burks should share Anunoby's minutes, with the rest of the Knicks squad already logging a massive amount of playing time in the playoffs.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (rib) isn't ready to return to the lineup Thursday for Game 2 against Boston, with the team downgrading him from questionable to out. Allen hasn't featured since Game 4 of the team's first-round battle with Orlando, missing time with a rib contusion. Isaac Okoro is poised for another start on Thursday in Allen's place. He's been quiet throughout the postseason, averaging 5.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 23.8 minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Patrick Beverley has been suspended four games without pay by the NBA. During Game 6 of the first round against the Indiana Pacers, the 35-year-old was involved in an altercation, resulting in Beverely forcefully throwing a basketball into the stands toward fans. Additionally, after the game, he was involved in "an inappropriate interaction" with an ESPN reporter during media availability. His suspension will begin at the start of next season. Beverely heads into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell led the team with 12 assists and provided 10 points in Wednesday's Game 2 loss to the Knicks. The veteran guard logged a very productive 22 minutes off the bench, adding four rebounds to his tally and shooting 5-for-9 from the field. The Pacers were plus-10 with McConnell on the floor. That's now three straight games with double-digit scoring for McConnell, who has also averaged 8.0 dimes during the stretch. Indiana tends to play better with him on the court, and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle clearly needs to find more minutes for McConnell to turn things around in the series.
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin had a prolific outing in Game 2 against the Knicks on Wednesday, finishing a 130-121 loss with 20 points. He scored a point per minute off the bench, shooting 7-for-10 from the field with a 2-for-4 effort from behind the arc. Toppin also notched three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. The Pacers are struggling in the series, but Toppin has enjoyed the battle against his former team. He has shot a very impressive 70.6 percent through the first two games, averaging 16.0 points with 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Game 3 gives Toppin a chance to make it three 20-point efforts in four games.
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton scored a game-high 34 points with seven makes from downtown in Wednesday's 130-121 loss to the Knicks. After shaking off a questionable tag again, Haliburton enjoyed a good start with 13 first-quarter points and ended up with his highest-scoring game of the 2024 playoffs. He shot 11-for-19 overall from the field and finished one assist short of a double-double while recording six rebounds and three steals. Haliburton, who has been battling lower back spasms in the postseason, hasn't looked quite like himself lately, but his Game 2 outing was an encouraging sign that the best has yet to come from him. Indiana certainly needs similar efforts from Haliburton to take this series past four games.
New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein came up with a big all-around performance against the Pacers in Wednesday's Game 2, finishing a 130-121 win with 14 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, and one block. The 26-year-old big man, who averages 1.7 dimes for his career, came very close to a triple-double as he led his team in assists. Despite the narrow miss, Hartenstein should be extremely happy with his contributions in Game 2, and he at least got to celebrate his first double-double of the playoffs. There should be plenty more of those to come for Hartenstein after Mitchell Robinson (ankle) landed on the shelf.
New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart was once again on the court for the entire contest as the Knickerbockers grabbed a 2-0 series lead with a 130-121 victory against the Pacers on Wednesday. He also logged the entire 48 minutes in Game 1 and has now done it four times in total during the 2024 postseason. Hart posted a third consecutive double-double on Wednesday with 19 points and 15 rebounds, adding seven assists, one steal, and one block to his account. He finished with 8-for-12 shooting, going 1-for-3 from behind the arc. The 29-year-old has averaged a ridiculous 48.2 minutes per game over New York's last five matches. Hart has also been very productive during his time on the court, logging 21.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals in the series against Indiana.