Lakers Game Preview: A Check On The Non-Jokić Nuggets
A different kind of preview, with a special Peyton Watson trade deadline deep-dive
The Lakers start their eight-game road trip tonight with a very important game in Denver, kicking off a stretch of games every other night all the way up to the trade deadline. With the schedule tightening and trade season creeping closer to its peak, I decided to slightly adapt how these previews are structured.
Alongside the usual matchup notes, I’ll start weaving in trade-related thoughts where it makes sense. That can mean quick looks at interesting players, roster fits, or ideas that naturally come up in game previews and post-game observations. Tonight, for example, I’ll focus a bit on how the Nuggets look without Nikola Jokić, and add a quick deep-dive on Peyton Watson—whose recent play, combined with his upcoming restricted free agency, has quietly made him one of the more interesting names to track right now.
So let me know how you like this new concept in the comments or in our chat. And since I’m still fighting an uphill battle with the non-existent support on X to retrieve my account that was hacked on Saturday, I’d really appreciate anyone willing to share the article or my work to help it reach more people. Thanks, as always.
Lakers (25-16) @ Nuggets (29-14) game facts
Rest: LAL on 1 day of rest; DEN on 1 day of rest
Ranking: LAL 17th in Point Diff (-0.5), DEN 7th in Point Diff (+4.5)
LAL vs DEN 2024-25 record: 2-2
LAL injuries: Austin Reaves (OUT), Adou Thiero (OUT)
DEN injuries: Nikola Jokić (OUT), Christian Braun (OUT), Cameron Johnson (OUT), Jonas Valanciunas (OUT)
LAL projected starting five: Luka Dončić (G), Marcus Smart (G), Jake LaRavia (F), LeBron James (F), Deandre Ayton (C)
LAL key reserves: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Drew Timme
DEN projected starting five: Jamal Murray (G), Jalen Pickett (G), Spencer Jones (F), Peyton Watson (F), Aaron Gordon (F)
DEN key reserves: Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, Zeke Naji, Julian Strawther
DEN rotation:
