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.
- 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
- Wolves C Rudy Gobert (personal) questionable for Game 2
- Mavericks sign coach Jason Kidd to extension
- Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis (calf) focused on playoff return
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.
New York Knicks guard/forward Donte DiVincenzo contributed 28 points in Wednesday's 130-121 Game 2 victory over Indiana, shooting 6-for-12 from three-point range. He was 10-for-20 overall from the field with six rebounds, four assists, and one steal. DiVincenzo had a cold start to the postseason, but he's now posted at least 23 points in three consecutive games. He's a very talented shooter, and Indiana has given him a lot of looks in the series, with DiVincenzo having recorded 21 attempts from deep. The 27-year-old sniper has shot 52.4 percent from downtown through the first two games.
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson shook off a foot injury to put up a team-high 29 points on 11-for-18 shooting in Wednesday's Game 2 win over Indiana. The Knicks star missed the entire second quarter with a sore right foot, but he was back in action for the start of the third and played like nothing had happened. Brunson was 3-for-6 with his three-point attempts and also led his team with three steals while delivering five assists and grabbing two rebounds. The foot problem could land Brunson on the injury report ahead of Game 3, but it looks like he can play through the ailment.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) won't return to Wednesday's matchup against the Pacers. He had played well in the contest, scoring 28 points while shooting 10-for-19 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep. Unfortunately, Anunoby limped off the court late in the third quarter, with TNT's Chris Haynes reporting the former Raptor experienced left hamstring soreness. Jalen Brunson (foot) briefly exited this contest, although he returned. However, DFS managers will likely see both men on the injury report ahead of Game 3 on Friday evening. While Anunoby is sidelined, Precious Achiuwa will likely see more work.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (leg) exited Wednesday's postseason matchup with the Pacers. Jalen Brunson (foot) left in the first half because of right foot discomfort. Fortunately, Brunson returned, although now the team could be without Anunoby, who limped off the court while holding his left hamstring in the third quarter. If he doesn't return, he'll finish with 28 points, shooting 10-for-19 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep, with Precious Achiuwa and Miles McBride expected to see more minutes the rest of the way.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (foot) returned to Wednesday's postseason contest versus the Pacers. Brunson experienced right foot discomfort in the first quarter and was questionable to return. However, while fantasy managers are happy he's out there, it's evident he's not 100%. Of course, head coach Tom Thibodeau will monitor Brunson throughout the contest, and he will likely see fewer minutes than usual.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) remains out for Thursday's matchup against the Cavaliers. The 28-year-old suffered a right Soleus strain during the previous round versus the Miami Heat. Fortunately, team reporter Chris Forsberg posted a video to X on Wednesday that showed Porzingis doing some shooting. Nonetheless, he could still miss the remainder of the series with Cleveland. But until Porzingis is back in the lineup, Al Horford and Luke Kornet should handle things in the middle.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was named the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player, his third time capturing the award in the last four seasons. The 29-year-old is coming off another potent season, amassing 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists in 79 games. He also shot 58.3% from the field, one of the best marks of his career. Jokic doesn't appear to be slowing down, so he should remain a top fantasy option for many years ahead, especially since he's among the most durable players in the National Basketball Association.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (foot) exited Wednesday's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. He is questionable to return. The 27-year-old had 43 points to lead the Knicks to the win in Game 1. Unfortunately, he was only on the court for eight minutes in Game 2 before exiting with right foot discomfort. The Knicks need him healthy. But if Brunson can't return, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo will pick up most of the slack on the scoring end.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Patrick Beverley is under police investigation for his ball-throwing incident in Game 6 against the Pacers. With the Bucks down by 20 points and heading out of the playoffs, Beverley chucked the ball at Pacers fans multiple times near the end of the game. The controversial guard, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent, has since then regretted the incident. "Unfortunate situation that should have never happened," Beverley said on his podcast. "What I did was bad, and that should have never happened. I have to be better, and I will be better. That should have never happened. Regardless of what was said, that should have never happened. Simple as that."
Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo has suffered a torn Achilles and is set to undergo surgery, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. The older brother of multi-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has just finished his sixth NBA season, averaging 0.9 points across 4.6 minutes of action. He has a total of 198 regular-season games of experience under his belt in the Association. Together with his brother, Antetokounmpo won the NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) will remain out for Thursday's Game 2 against Boston. He's missed two months with a sprained right knee, but there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for the 27-year-old. An update ahead of the second-round series opener by Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com suggested Wade might be ready to return to action this weekend. With Jarrett Allen (rib) also out injured, the Cavaliers could really use an extra body on the frontcourt. Wade finished the regular season with averages of 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds across 20.5 minutes.