Nuggets try to remain perfect in preseason, take on Lakers for second time in three days

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Preseason game No. 3 | Denver Nuggets (2-0) at Los Angeles Lakers (1-1)

Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California | 7:30 PM MT | TV: NBA TV

Injury Report

Gary Harris – OUT (groin)

Darrell Arthur – OUT (knee)

The Denver Nuggets will try and remain perfect in preseason play as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers from Ontario, California (7:30 PM MT, NBA TV) in their third preseason game and second straight against the Lakers.

Here are some storylines to keep in mind while watching tonight:

Will Emmanuel Mudiay get back on track?

Through two preseason games, Mudiay has very much been the player he was last year. In the 23.4 minutes per game he’s played this preseason, the 20-year-old is averaging just 5.5 points and 4.0 assists with 3.5 turnovers per game. Maybe more worrisome is that the point guard who managed to shoot a respectable 39.3 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three after the All-Star break last year, is converting on just 23.8 percent of his field goals and 14.3 percent of his threes through two games. Mudiay is also just 1-11 from outside the restricted area.

However, all this can be reversed with a solid showing against the Lakers tonight. Mudiay is going to be given every chance to succeed in his second season at the helm for the Nuggets and it’s not time to get overly concerned about his development in year two. That being said, Mudiay needs to start playing better this preseason or else the voices of those concerned about his development in his second season will get louder after every game.

Are the Nuggets still considering starting Kenneth Faried this season?

Coach Michael Malone was adamant earlier this week that the Nuggets aren’t going to be reactionary when it comes to their starting lineup, meaning they’re not going to change their starting five based on who their opponent is or what lineup they’re throwing out. That being said, Malone hasn’t come out and stated that the “Jurkic” lineup featuring Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic in the frontcourt together is set in stone as Denver’s starting power forward and center this year.

Neither Jokic or Nurkic have rested in the Nuggets first two games, so it might be worth it tonight to give the Lakers, who the Nuggets just played Friday night, a different look from the opening tip. A contrasting frontcourt and feel may help Mudiay get in a groove offensively since a Faried and Jokic combination up front is a lineup he played with often last year.

When will Axel Toupane, JaKarr Sampson, and Nate Wolters see the floor?

It’s been tough to get a feel for who’s leading in the competition for Denver’s 15th and final roster spot, which is seemingly between Toupane, Sampson, Wolters, Robbie Hummel, and Jarnell Stokes, because only two of those five have seen the court through two preseason games. Hummel and Stokes have been a part of the Nuggets finishing lineup, which also included rookies Jamal Murray, Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangomez, but we have yet to see Toupane, Sampson, and Wolters take the floor.

That could change tonight as the Nuggets will likely begin to rest other rotation players after holding Faried and Danilo Gallinari out Friday night, but so far it’s been tough to get a gauge on what Malone and general manager Tim Connelly’s thoughts are for Denver’s last roster spot. Hopefully we have a bit more clarity after tonight.

How will Jamal Murray build off his encouraging performance from Friday night?

After playing 17 minutes and scoring a modest nine points on 3-5 shooting in Denver’s preseason win over the Raptors, Murray played 32 minutes Friday night against the Lakers and stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. The 19-year-old wasn’t incredibly efficient and shot just 6-17, but showed off his 3-point range and in between game.

I’d look for Murray to have a similar role going forward to the one he took on Friday as he looks to make his imprint on this team early on this preseason. Murray was never thought of as a prospect with blazing speed or athleticism, leading many to wonder how he’d effectively operate in the pick-and-roll and get clean looks offensively.

What we’ve seen through two games is Murray compensate for his lack of elite quickness with an offensive IQ beyond his years and the ability to use his body to get below the 3-point line and into the teeth of the defense. I expect to see Murray get heavy minutes at both guard positions moving forward.

Is Will Barton locked in as the starting two-guard with Gary Harris sidelined?

Barton got the first crack at Harris’s spot in the starting lineup against the Lakers and it will be interesting to see if he’ll remain there moving forward. Harris will likely miss the regular season opener as he tries to get back from a partially torn groin that he suffered against Toronto last week and Barton is the most experienced option the Nuggets have to plug and play.

Personally, I still like Barton off the bench. He was the Nuggets most explosive and reliable player in the pick-and-roll last season, maybe outside of Mudiay, and the second unit badly needs his playmaking ability. I’d rather see Malone start Toupane, Murray or Beasley at the two and then bring Barton off the bench to play alongside the starters some, but primarily anchor the bench unit.

Of course we’re just two games into the preseason and Malone still has six more games including tonight to tinker with his rotation, but I’ll be watching what lineup combinations Barton plays with closely tonight.