Jackson Sees Two Previews

At first glance, they appeared to be games to dismiss as meaningless, particularly in view of the Lakers’ loss Sunday at Portland that makes it so much tougher to vault to fourth place in the Western Conference standings and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Coach Phil Jackson didn’t see it that way Tuesday.

The Denver Nuggets, woebegone though they are, offered one glimpse of what the Lakers might expect to see in the playoffs. The Golden State Warriors, tonight’s opponent in the regular-season finale, are another.

The Nuggets are similar in style to the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, two possible Laker playoff opponents.

The Warriors, like the Mavericks, don’t mind a frenetic pace.

“[Tonight] will be a free-flowing game,” Jackson said of facing the Warriors. “It will be very similar to playing Dallas.”

Of facing Dallas, if the Lakers finish sixth, or Minnesota, if they move to fifth, Jackson said, “Both teams we would face are jump-shooting teams. Minnesota has one of the lowest free-throw totals in the league. Dallas is a little higher, but still shoots a lot of jump shots. Both play unique defenses.

“I don’t think we have as much time to prepare as we used to, but we have opponents we know in, particularly, Dallas and Minnesota.”

TONIGHT

at Golden State, 7:30, Ch. 9

Site -- The Arena in Oakland.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330, Spanish), KIRN (670).

Records -- Lakers 49-32, Warriors 38-43.

Record vs. Warriors -- 1-2.

Update -- The Lakers have lost two in a row to the Warriors after winning the first game against them at Staples Center.