Nuggets at Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are rapidly sliding out of the Western Conference playoff race as they entertain the visiting Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. The Lakers have lost three straight games and 20 of their past 30 and sit 5 1/2 games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the final spot.
Los Angeles is feeling the urgency of the situation but the losses continue to pile up, the latest being Monday's 113-105 loss to the Clippers. "You keep playing until the end and see what happens," Lakers forward LeBron James told reporters after the setback. "Everyone is talking about the postseason. We need to be worrying about each and every game and where we can get better. At the end of the year, the chips will fall where they may." The Nuggets have also lost three straight after falling 104-103 to the host San Antonio Spurs on Monday and coach Michael Malone thinks the slide will reveal a lot about his club. "This is good for us," Malone told reporters. "As much as we hate to go through it, losing three in a row, this kind of failure, if we're willing to learn from it, can be a positive. Let's see what kind of fight we have, let's see what kind of resolve we have."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Altitude (Denver), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (42-21): Denver is looking to avoid matching its season worst of four straight losses as the club continues to give the Golden State Warriors a battle for the top seed in the Western Conference. Shooting guard Gary Harris had just eight points in 27 minutes in Monday's loss and reached double digits in scoring just once in six games since returning from a groin injury, averaging 8.5 points on 16-of-46 shooting during the stretch. "I think for me, I have to constantly remind myself that Gary Harris is still trying to find a rhythm in that starting lineup and a rhythm overall," Malone told reporters. "We've got to find ways to help him get going."
ABOUT THE LAKERS (30-34): Los Angeles is hoping Brandon Ingram (shoulder) will be available after he was a late scratch against the Clippers but fellow forward Kyle Kuzma (ankle) will miss the contest. Kuzma was injured midway through the fourth quarter on Monday and while X-rays were negative, an MRI exam has been scheduled to determine the severity of the injury. James scored 27 points against the Clippers to raise his career total to 32,280 and he needs 13 to pass Michael Jordan (32,292) for fourth place on the all-time scoring list.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers have won four straight home games against the Nuggets.
2. Denver PG Jamal Murray scored 25 points against the Spurs for his fourth straight 20-point outing.
3. Los Angeles PG Rajon Rondo scored a season-best 24 points and also had 12 assists and 10 rebounds against the Clippers for his 32nd career triple-double.