The Los Angeles Lakers took a step forward toward the goal of winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy this season by defeating Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans in a Play-in Tournament game in the Big Easy Tuesday night, 110-106. But there’s still so much for the Lakers to overcome in order to win the title.
For one, their next opponent is no other than the reigning NBA champs , the Denver Nuggets. The two teams are no strangers to each other in the playoffs. In 2020, the Lakers and Denver met in the Western Conference Finals, with Los Angeles winning the series, 4-1. Three years later, the Nuggets returned the favor — and more — as they swept the Lakers in the West Finals. The winner of each series went on to win the NBA title.
It is Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets Again in the NBA Playoffs
There’s palpable excitement among NBA fans about the looming series between the Lakers and the Nuggets, though, many believe that Denver will steamroll past LeBron James and company.
“Lakers vs Nuggets. A rematch of the best nba series of alltime that was also a 4 game sweep,” said PFT Commenter.
“I need the Nuggets to sweep the Lakers again. I need it for my soul!,” shared X user @singingboy12.
“It wont be a sweep like last year but nuggets in 6 over lakers,” commented @KYSmusicbeatz.
From Emmanuel Acho: “Congrats Lakers, hell of a victory. Your reward for winning is the Denver Nuggets, a team who you haven’t beat in your last 8 tries or 471 days. But again, congrats.”
The Lakers went 0-3 in the regular season versus the Nuggets and have not defeated Denver since December of 2022. That’s an eight-game losing skid for the Lakers in this head-to-head, including meetings with Denver in the playoffs.
Los Angeles will look to shake off their malaise in this particular matchup when the Lakers take on Denver in Game 1 of the series this Saturday on the road.
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