The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets is set to continue on Saturday in what promises to be a thrilling primetime showdown. With three playoff meetings in the last five seasons, the battle for Western Conference dominance is as intense as ever.
However, this time, the Lakers bring a new weapon to the fight. The team they field on Saturday will look quite different from the one Denver defeated in November, as Los Angeles now features Luka Doncic—arguably the league’s most dangerous offensive player.
Despite the blockbuster addition, the Nuggets don’t seem too concerned. Denver has dominated this matchup in recent years, winning 13 of their last 14 meetings with the Lakers, including playoff games.
Speaking with Malika Andrews on ESPN’s NBA Today, Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon made it clear that Denver remains focused on their own game rather than worrying about opponents.
“They definitely have a new look to them,” Gordon said of the Lakers. “We don’t really concern ourselves with other teams. We focus on what’s going on in our locker room. We take care of what we’re supposed to take care of. If the cards fall where they may, we focus on Denver Nuggets basketball and that’s it. It doesn’t really matter who’s in front of us or who our opposition is.”
The Nuggets enter the matchup in dominant form, riding a nine-game winning streak and sitting tied for second in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the fifth-seeded Lakers are still adjusting to life with Doncic, having lost two of the three games he has played since arriving from Dallas.
Saturday’s showdown at Ball Arena tips off at 8:30 PM ET and will be nationally televised on ABC.
