For a league to thrive long, it needs to have quality, which ignites rivalries, and the NBA, with its foundation of intense rivalries, is no different. The ’80s Lakers vs Celtics, the ’90s Bulls vs Pistons, etc. However, if you had to think about a modern rivalry close to that, what would cross your mind first? The Lakers-Nuggets? At least 8 times over the last 2 seasons, and 5 times in the playoffs, the Lakers have traveled to Denver only to leave with a loss. The current win record for the Lakers in the last 10 games it had with Nikola Jokic and co stands at 2-8! The good news was that the Lakers were able to unleash their new weapon, Luka Doncic, in the previous game against the Nuggets to secure a memorable win. But can they do it again?
Unfortunately, while Luka might not be a headache, the same cannot be said about LeBron James. He is set to miss his 3rd consecutive game due to his groin injury. However, JJ Redick did reveal that, after the Nuggets game, the 40-year-old will be holding a ‘Day-To-Day’ status. But what about Luka Doncic?
According to the Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report highlighted by ESPN, Luka Doncic’s name is nowhere! This means that, from a health standpoint, the Slovenian is fully available to take on Nikola Jokic and co in the coming hours. Sigh of relief for the Lakers? Majorly, but there’s another injury on the list.
Jaxson Hayes, who had missed the last 3 consecutive games, will also be ‘OUT’ as he recovers from a right knee contusion. According to Jovan Buha, both players were reportedly sent back to Los Angeles to recover away from the road games. Rui Hachimura also joined them, as the condition of his left knee injury was bad enough to prevent him from playing. As for Maxi Kleber, the German power forward will not be re-evaluated for at least another month.
Feb 4, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; against the Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic watches game action against the against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
All these updates spell bad news for Luka Doncic. Sure, the player is capable enough to carry a whole team’s offensive efforts on his shoulders. He proved that in the recent game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite having just recovered from a right ankle soreness, the Slovenian dropped 45 points (14-27 FG, 7-13 3Pt, 10-12 FT), 11 rebounds, and 3 assists in 36 minutes. This was the highest score he recorded with the Lakers squad. However, his individual brilliance fell short in front of the Bucks’ collective effort of Giannis Antetokounmpo and co from winning. If that can spell trouble, one can only wonder how tough the Nuggets will be.
No matter what, however, one can expect Luka Doncic to put on a good show when facing the Serbian and his team. After all, he often has.
How has Luka Doncic performed against the Denver Nuggets in the last 10 games?
Throughout his 7-year-long NBA career, Luka Doncic has competed against the Denver Nuggets in 20 games. Surprisingly, the score has been even between them, with the win record standing at a perfect 10-10. When looking at their last 10 games, Luka’s win record is 5-5.
Luka Doncic has averaged 30.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 9.0 assists in his last 10 matchups against the Nuggets. He shot at least 9.7-21.1 (46.0%) field goals, 3.5-8.9 (39.3%) three-pointers, and 7.1-9.1 (78.0%) free throws in that period.
Mar 4, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The last game that Luka Doncic played against Nikola Jokic and Co. was his then-best game with the Lakers. Before that, the player scored only 14, 16, and 14 points in his first three LA games. When the time came to face the Serbian, however, Luka Doncic scored 32 points! His contribution allowed the Lakers to secure a 123-100 score and snap the Nuggets’ 9-game winning streak.
Luka Doncic now has the chance to take the lead in the even 10-10 record. With no backup in the form of LeBron James and other players, however, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to win or not.
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