Lakers vying for first Western Conference win, visiting Denver Nuggets
Denver’s Will Barton, left, drives against Minnesota’s Andre Miller on Dec. 15.
On Tuesday, the Lakers (4-23) visit the Denver Nuggets (11-16), still looking for their first victory over a Western Conference opponent.
Through 14 tries, the Lakers have lost all 14. Against the East, the Lakers have managed four wins in 13 attempts.
The Nuggets have lost two in a row and are still waiting to get point guard Emmanuel Mudiay back from an ankle injury, starting veteran Jameer Nelson in his stead.
Center Jusuf Nurkic (knee) and Wilson Chandler (hip) are also out. Both Danilo Gallinari (ankle) and Darrell Arthur (knee) could play against the Lakers.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are hoping to get Kobe Bryant back on the floor after their veteran All-Star sat out a game with a sore shoulder.
Key matchup
Reserve guard/forward Will Barton has emerged as a reliable scorer for the Nuggets, averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 rebounds a game, while shooting 45.7% from the field and 40.4% from three-point range.
Those numbers have climbed in December, with Barton scoring 19.4 points with 7.0 rebounds through nine appearances.
He’ll match up against Bryant, who was playing some of his best ball of the season before sitting against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Over his past three games, Bryant averaged 23 points a game while shooting 53.2% from the field.
Rookie Anthony Brown got his first career start in Bryant’s place against the Thunder, scoring four points.
X-factor
The Lakers always seem to have a difficult time containing Kenneth Faried, the Denver forward/center who is averaging 12.6 points and 9.1 rebounds a game.
In the Nuggets’ previous meeting with the Lakers, Faried scored 28 points with 15 rebounds.
Rookie Larry Nance Jr. is expected to start against Faried, with second-year forward Julius Randle coming off the bench.
Like Faried, Nance is an energy player -- although he’s certainly less seasoned.
Randle scored 16 points against the Nuggets with five rebounds in Denver’s 120-109 victory early in November.
Outlook
The Lakers have a real opportunity to win on Tuesday, especially if Bryant plays and Gallinari does not.
Still, the record speaks for itself -- mark the Lakers down for their 15th loss against Western Conference competition.
Twitter: @EricPincus
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