Luka Doncic, undermanned Lakers have tall task vs. Nuggets

The Los Angeles Lakers surged to the second seed in the Western Conference with an eight-game winning streak, but that was when LeBron James was healthy.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer has missed the last two games with a groin strain, and that has coincided with a three-game skid for Los Angeles. The Lakers will try to salvage the finale of a four-game road trip when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

The teams have split the first two meetings this season, each winning on the road. Los Angeles won the last encounter, 123-100, on Feb. 22 during its winning streak.

Injuries have had an impact. Along with James being sidelined at least through Friday, Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy) and Jaxson Hayes (bruised right knee) are out.

All three players were sent back to Los Angeles, confirming they will miss the last game of the road trip.

"There's no reason for them to travel," coach JJ Redick said. "They've got acute injuries that frankly, they're better served without the travel and rehabbing back in L.A. They won't play (on Friday), but they're day to day from here on out."

The Lakers still have Luka Doncic, and he did what he could to help new team at Milwaukee on Thursday night. Doncic tied a season high with 45 points in the 126-106 loss to the Bucks.

Doncic is averaging 26.1 points in 13 games (all starts) since joining Los Angeles last month.

James is averaging 25.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists, and Austin Reaves is at 18.9 points a game.

The Lakers shut down Denver star Nikola Jokic on Feb. 22, holding him to 13 points on 2-for-7 shooting. Jokic managed to get a triple-double in the game but the Nuggets shot just 40.0 percent in the loss.

Jokic leads Denver in points (29.0), rebounds (12.9) and assists (10.4) per game, all of which rank in the top three in the NBA.

Jamal Murray is second on the team in scoring at 21.4 points a game, Michael Porter Jr. is third at 18.3 points, followed by Christian Braun (15.3).

Aaron Gordon is averaging 13.1 points but is questionable to play with a right ankle injury that has kept him out of the last two games. Jokic is battling a sore right elbow and ankle but should play.

Despite the real chance of averaging a triple-double for the season, Jokic is not the favorite to win the MVP. Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the NBA in scoring, is considered the favorite.

"We believe he is the sole MVP," teammate Peyton Watson said of Jokic, "and he has been for the last four, five years."

Team records factor into the voting, and the Thunder are atop the Western Conference -- 12 games ahead of the Nuggets, who can improve their chance at the No. 2 seed with a win against the Lakers.

--Field Level Media