Lakers vs Nuggets Pregame Report
TueLos Angeles Lakers (41-25) are at home to take on the rival Denver Nuggets (41-26) in a big game with both teams close in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers will get some reinforcements back in the lineup, with Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart both returning. Luka Doncic is looking to continue his strong play after a 51-point game in the win over the Chicago Bulls. Austin Reaves also finished the game with 30 points and Deandre Ayton continued his strong play contributing 23 points and 10 rebounds.
With the Nuggets in town, Los Angeles knows that Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will come out guns blazing like they always do against the Lakers.
LAKERS-NUGGETS PRIMETIME ON ABC 🍿
Let’s protect home court and win the season series 😈 pic.twitter.com/LaCAo5WO8i
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) March 14, 2026
Luka Dončić’s Scoring Ability
Doncic is in the midst of one of his best scoring seasons to date. He currently leads the league in scoring, averaging 32.9 points. In his last ten games, he is shooting 49% from the field and 41% from three-point range.
He will need to continue his strong scoring output tonight against the Nuggets. Denver will be without one of their best defenders, Peyton Watson, so Doncic will be facing multiple defenders throughout the game.
These games mean a little bit more now since both teams are separated by a half-game in the standings, and if Los Angeles wins tonight, they will take control of the season series and hold the tiebreaker over Denver.
Three-Point Shooting
Denver is the best three-point shooting team in the league this season, shooting 39% as a unit. Los Angeles has been a middle-of-the-pack team when it comes to three-point shooting this season, as they have shot 35% from long range.
The addition of Luke Kennard has done wonders when it comes to bench scoring, along with moving Rui Hachimura to the second unit. Kennard leads the team shooting 46%, and Hachimura is right behind, shooting 44%.
Doncic, Reaves, LeBron James, and others will need to shoot effectively from behind the arc to keep the game close tonight.
Dominayton Play
Deandre Ayton is in the midst of back-to-back double-doubles and will have to continue that strong play tonight against Jokic down low. Along with his scoring ability, he needs to do everything he can to make it difficult for Jokic and others to score in the paint.
Ayton has been criticized this season for his low motor and inconsistent play, but if the Lakers continue to get this version of Ayton, this team can go much further than many people think.
Tonight will seem like a playoff game, and the Lakers need to do everything in their power to secure a win and keep the momentum going as we approach the playoffs.
