Lakers - Nuggets Notes

A collection of notes heading into Thursday evening’s Lakers - Nuggets game in Denver:
Injury Update
LAKERS:
- Andrew Bynum is OUT with a left Achilles strain
- Luke Walton is PROBABLE with a pinched nerve, back
- Sasha Vujacic is PROBABLE with a sprained right shoulder
- Kobe Bryant WILL PLAY with an avulsion fracture, right index finger
- Shannon Brown WILL PLAY with a sprained right thumb
- Ron Artest WILL PLAY with a left heel bruise/sprained left thumb
NUGGETS:
- Kenyon Martin is OUT with left knee patella tendinitis
- Chris Andersen is a GAME-TIME DECISION with a left ankle sprain
- Chauncey Billups is PROBABLE with a left quadriceps contusion
LAST TIME THEY PLAYED
The Lakers trailed by as many as 13 points and turned the ball over 14 times in the first half before holding Denver to 37 points in the second half, forcing 12 turnovers in the final 24 minutes to win 95-89. Lamar Odom led four Lakers in double-figures with 20 points, 12 rebounds and four steals, while Ron Artest added 17 points and a season-high tying six steals while defending Carmelo Anthony (7-of-19 FGs, eight turnovers). Kobe Bryant added a season-high 12 assists while scoring 14 points, and the Lakers reserves outscored Denver’s 35-15.
LAKERS - NUGGETS CONNECTIONS
- The Lakers trail the season series 2-1 after taking last season’s series 3-1.
- The Lakers hold a commanding 94-48 all-time mark against Denver.
- The Lakers are 18-3 against the Nuggets at STAPLES Center, and are 4-6 in their last 10 road games at Pepsi Center.
- L.A. is 25-12 against Denver under Phil Jackson.
- The Lakers are 17-4 overall against the Nuggets in postseason play, including an 11-game winning streak from 1985 to 2009, the 2nd longest postseason streak against one team in NBA history (L.A. vs Seattle, 1980-89).
- Adrian Dantley, Denver’s acting head coach in George Karl’s absence (throat cancer), averaged 18.3 points per game for the Lakers from 1977-79.
NUMBERS COMPARISON
- The Nuggets score 106.8 points per game and allow 102.3, while L.A. scores 102.1 and concedes 97.0.
- Denver shoots 47.1% from the field, 35.8% from 3 and 77.4% from the foul line, while L.A. goes 45.9% FGs, 34.2% 3’s and 76.5% FT’s.
- The Lakers grab 44.3 rebounds per game while Denver collects 41.5.
- The Lakers average 21.2 assists per game, and Denver 21.1.
- Denver averages 8.31 steals to L.A.’s 7.64 and blocks 4.97 shots to 4.83 for the Lakers.
- The Lakers average 13.5 turnovers per game and Denver 14.0.

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