Here is what you need to know before the Lakers complete their back-to-back with a visit against the Denver Nuggets.
1) D’Angelo Russell might still be covered in flames from his career-high 39-point outburst in Tuesday’s win over Brooklyn. The 20-year-old scored 10 of his team’s final 13 points and also became the youngest player in league history to knock down eight 3-pointers in one game.
2) After sitting out the past two games with a sore shoulder, Kobe Bryant is expected to suit up for his final game in Denver. The 20-year Laker scored a series-high 51 points against the Nuggets on Feb. 12, 2003, which was tied four years later by Allen Iverson.
3) The Lakers will be without reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, who suffered a strained hamstring in Tuesday’s win. The injury will keep him off the floor for at least a week.
4) The Nuggets have gotten the better of Los Angeles recently, winning 16 of their last 24 meetings. However, that wasn’t the case in their latest matchup on Dec. 22, when Bryant erupted for 31 points to lead a 111-107 L.A. win.
5) Injuries have decimated the Nuggets lately, as Danilo Gallinari (ankle) is out, while Kenneth Faried (low back) and Jameer Nelson (left wrist sprain) are questionable. This season, Denver has used 17 different starting lineups, primarily due to missing 170 games to injury.
6) Gallinari is a major blow to the Nuggets’ offense, as he leads his team in scoring (19.5 ppg), 3-pointers (1.6) and 3-point percentage (36.4). The seven-year veteran had also scored double figures in 41 straight games prior to his injury, and currently ranks third in the NBA in made free throws (7.1).
7) Fortunately for the Nuggets, Kenneth Faried has been on patrol lately, notching a double-double in three straight games, averaging 19.0 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 66.7 percent. Primarily due to his outstanding athleticism, Faried ranks fifth in the league in both field goal percentage (56.3) and offensive rebounds (3.4).
8) Russell is going up against the other heralded point guard of this year’s draft, Emmanuel Mudiay. While Russell’s stroke has been money lately, Mudiay has struggled with his shot all year long. He leads all rookies in assists (5.8), but ranks last among first-year players in both field goal (33.6) and 3-point point percentage (27.3).
9) Will Barton has made a huge leap this year, ranking third among bench players in scoring (15.2). However, he is currently in a five-game slump, in which he has shot just 21-of-60 and missed all of his last 14 3-point attempts.
10) When Faried and co. aren’t winning the battle on the boards, it means rough times for Denver, as it is just 2-17 when being outrebounded this year.
