Denver Nuggets visit Los Angeles Lakers, face Kobe Bryant for final time

The Denver Nuggets face off against the Los Angeles Lakers for the final time this season and potentially against Kobe Bryant for the final time ever. Bryant is currently considered questionable with the sore right shoulder that has bothered him throughout his farewell tour. But he historically loves to rip out the hearts of Nuggets fans, it would be no surprise to see him log considerable minutes in Friday night’s series finale against Denver at the Staples Center.

The Nuggets lead the season series 2-1 having won a 117-107 showdown in Denver to open March that saw rookies Emmanuel Mudiay (22 points) and D’Angelo Russell (24 points) steal the show along with D.J. Augustin (26 points) playing his best game since being traded to Denver as Bryant logged just 11 minutes and 5 points in the contest. The Lakers will have veteran guard Lou Williams back at their disposal after missing the last game against the Nuggets while Kenneth Faried is listed as questionable for Denver.

The Nuggets are coming off of a dramatic, last second win over the Philadelphia 76ers in their lone home game in a stretch of seven of eight on the road, while the Lakers dropped a 119-107 stinker to the tanking Phoenix Suns in Arizona on Wednesday marking their fifth loss in their last six games despite being in the midst of a stretch of 10 of 11 games at home. Both teams feature a number of promising, young players so despite their records, an entertaining matchup is sure to ensue.

Rookies Rumble

Both the Lakers and the Nuggets boast a bevy of talented first year NBA players. The Nuggets have Mudiay (averaging 30.4 minutes in 58 games) and Jokic (21 minutes, 70 games) as starters and significant contributors, while the recently signed Axel Toupane (14 min, 11 games) has provided solid shooting and defense off the bench since he was added to the roster earlier in March, leading to his signing at least through the end of the season.

The Lakers have four rookies that have made significant contributions this season, led by D’Angelo Russell (28 min, 69 games) and Larry Nance, Jr (20 min, 54 games). while both Marcelo Huertas (14.5 min, 42 games) and Anthony Brown (21 min, 29 games) have had their moments during the season as well. Few teams have gotten more significant contributions from rookie players this season, so despite their records, both Denver and L.A. showcase some of the best, young talent in the NBA.

Sophomore Skirmish

The rookies may get the headlines this season, but both the Nuggets and Lakers have a number of second-year players making enormous contributions this year. Gary Harris, Jusuf Nurkic and Joffrey Lauvergne have solidified themselves as true NBA rotation players this year and if they aren’t a part of the Nuggets’ long term plans, they will at least be players that can help bring back significant returns in GM Tim Connelly’s offseason maneuverings. Harris, in particular, has made incredible strides since his disappointing rookie season and looks like the two-way player and shooter that NBA teams salivate over in today’s perimeter-oriented league.

The Lakers are no slouches when it comes to second year players with Jordan Clarkson, Tarik Black and Julius Randle (who is essentially a rookie after lasting only 14 minutes into his rookies season before succumbing to a broken leg in his NBA debut) entering their second seasons in the league. Randle has been solid and Clarkson continues to impress while Black provides a solid presence off of the bench in the paint for the Lakers.

There’s no question that the Nuggets and Lakers have dropped off significantly since L.A.’s six-game win in the Western Conference Finals and Game 7’s win in 2012, but both teams are set up for success if they’re able to capitalize on their solid young players and draft assets over the next few seasons.

Versatile Vets

The young players are grabbing the (non-Kobe) headlines, but a number of NBA veterans have provided solid play for both Denver and Los Angeles while allowing the young guns to develop their games. The Lakers offer up the solid, if uninteresting Brandon Bass and Roy Hibbert  the interesting, but often inefficient Nick Young and Metta World Peace and the lone, effective and interesting veteran Lou Williams who missed the last game against he Nuggets in Denver.

The Nuggets on the other hand are getting significant contributions from Darrell Arthur and Augustin as well as the usual strong spring performance from the enigmatic Kenneth Faried who is being rested down the stretch due to low back soreness (Faried is questionable for Friday’s contest).

Nuggets of Note

Both Emmanuel Mudiay and D’Angelo Russell are averaging roughly the same number of minutes at this point in the season. The two players, who will be forever linked as the first two point guards taken in the 2015 draft, are offering up remarkably similar stats.

For the season, Mudiay has a line of 12.4 points, 5.6 assists, 3.2 turnovers, to go along with 1 steal, 0.6 blocks and 3.4 rebounds. Russell counters with 13.3 points, 3.5 assists, 2.3 turnovers, and 1.2 steals and 3.4 rebounds. In March, however, both rookies have stepped up their games with similar scoring averages (Mudiay 17.6 ppg, Russell 17.7 ppg) as well as shooting percentages (Mudiay 41 percent, Russell 42 percent).

In the other marquee matchup of the game, Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle. Randle is averaging a double-double on the season with 11.7 ppg and 10.2 rebounds while shooting just 43 percent and Jokic has provided 10.1 ppg and 6.5 rebounds on 51.4 percent shooting for the Nuggets.

Again, both young players have boosted their numbers with their increases responsibilities in March with Randle scoring 13.8 ppg and 11 rebs in the month on 48 percent shooting and Jokic improving to 12.8 ppg and 8.3 rebounds while slipping to 47 percent shooting. Jokic, however is also contributing across the box score with 1.2 steals, 1 block and 3.5 assists through the month as well. Needless to say, the Randle vs. Jokic battle will be one to watch in the series finale between these two teams.