Jokic leads Denver against Los Angeles after 43-point showing

Thu, Dec 15, 2022
NBA News (AP)

Denver Nuggets (17-10, third in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (11-16, 12th in the Western Conference)

Los Angeles; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Denver visits the Los Angeles Lakers after Nikola Jokic scored 43 points in the Nuggets' 141-128 win over the Washington Wizards.

The Lakers are 6-10 against conference opponents. Los Angeles is 1-2 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Nuggets have gone 14-6 against Western Conference opponents. Denver ranks second in the Western Conference with 28.1 assists per game led by Jokic averaging 9.0.

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Lakers won 121-110 in the last matchup on Oct. 31.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Davis is averaging 28.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games for Los Angeles.

Jokic is averaging 24.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and nine assists for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray is averaging 16.3 points over the last 10 games for Denver.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 5-5, averaging 122.8 points, 45.6 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.5 points per game.

Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 120.1 points, 42.1 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 6.7 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 53.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.5 points.

INJURIES:

Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr.: out (heel), Collin Gillespie: out (leg).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.