Here is what you need to know before the Lakers host the Denver Nuggets.
1)
Ed Davis has played well for L.A., no matter his role. The first-year Laker averaged 8.8 points on 56.8 percent shooting in 24 starts, and he is still contributing 7.5 points on a 60.4 percent clip in 27 games off the bench. Other areas of Davis’ game have even improved as a reserve, as he is collecting 1.0 more rebound (7.8) and 0.1 more blocks (1.2) off the pine than in the starting five.
2)
Poor starts have been hurting the Lakers all season, as they are the worst first-quarter shooting team in the league (41.5 percent). This issue has worsened during their four-game losing streak, in which they are shooting a league-low 38.5 percent in the first period. Making matters worse, opponents have been making 57.0 percent of their shots in the opening frame, which is the league’s second-highest mark over the last four contests.
Lakers Shot Chart (First Quarter)
3)
The last time these two teams met, L.A. pulled out a 111-103 victory on Dec. 30, despite allowing the Nuggets to score a season-high 32 points off turnovers. The Lakers scorched Denver offensively, racking up season highs in assists (31) and made 3-pointers (14). However, L.A. also had the services of Kobe Bryant, who reached a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
4)
The Nuggets have fallen in six straight games, the longest current streak in the NBA. Denver has been shooting atrociously during this stretch, hitting just 39.3 percent form the field and 23.9 percent on 3-pointers, both of which are the worst in the league. The Nuggets have also allowed their opponents to grab an NBA-high 50.8 rebounds in this span, along with the third-most points (105.7) and assists (24.8).
Nuggets Shot Chart (Last Six Games)
5)
Denver’s offense revolves around Ty Lawson, who is second in the league in assists (9.9). The former North Carolina Tar Heel also leads the NBA in assist opportunities (20.2) and assisted jump shots (6.5), while averaging more minutes played (36.8) than all but two others. More than just a passer, Lawson’s touch has been hot lately, averaging 21.7 points on 59.0 percent shooting in his last three games.
6)
On the other hand, Lawson’s backcourt mate, Arron Afflalo, has struggled to find his shot. Over his past six contests, the UCLA product has gone just 22-for-62 (35.5 percent) and is averaging only 9.8 points — 4.9 fewer than his season average.
7)
Down low, 20-year-old Jusuf Nurkic has been a promising talent for the Nuggets. The seven-footer is second among all rookies in both rebounds (6.4) and blocks (1.3). Nurkic is coming off of his best game yet, as he tallied career highs in points (16) and rebounds (14) against Oklahoma City on Monday, becoming the youngest Nugget to reach those numbers since Carmelo Anthony in 2004.
8)
J.J. Hickson has been a valuable piece, leading all reserves with seven double-doubles off the bench, one ahead of Carlos Boozer and Rudy Gobert. However, Hickson’s role has diminished lately, as he is averaging just 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.5 minutes over Denver’s last four games.
9)
Comebacks have been far from Denver’s specialty, as it is just 2-26 when trailing at halftime. That mark dwindles even further, to 2-29, when the Nuggets are behind heading into the fourth quarter.
10)
The key to beating the Nuggets has simply been to outshoot them. Denver is 18-4 when it records a better field goal percentage, but just 1-29 when being outshot.