Game preview · Fri 8:30 PM MT

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers: preview and Win Meter

Denver Nuggets → Los Angeles Lakers →

The Win Meter favors the Lakers at home against the Nuggets on Friday, February 12, at about 62%. That is a real edge, but the Nuggets are far from out of it.

How the Win Meter reads

The Win Meter reads the Lakers 62%, with a projected score of Denver Nuggets 114, Los Angeles Lakers 117. The rating gap is 12 points in favor of the Nuggets, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Lakers on top of that.

Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 38 times in 100 games like this, the Nuggets would win.

Recent form

The Nuggets are 1-1 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -4.4. The Lakers are 2-0 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -3.2.

The Nuggets were beaten 112-96 on the road by MIN not long ago.

The Lakers' best recent win was 127-105 at home against GSW.

The Lakers were beaten 131-108 at home by OKC not long ago.

Injuries to watch

Out: Julian Strawther (DEN), expected back Nov 29, 2026, Cameron Carr (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026, and Adou Thiero (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026.

Day to day or questionable: Spencer Jones (DEN), Cameron Johnson (DEN), Alpha Diallo (DEN), and Walker Kessler (LAL). Their status can change before tip-off.

The season series

In our records of recent meetings, the Lakers lead 4-3, with the Lakers outscoring the Nuggets by an average of 1.1 points per game. The last meeting was DEN 125, LAL 127.

Last five games

Oldest to newest. Tap a result for the score.

Nuggets2-3, -4.4 avg margin
Lakers2-3, -3.2 avg margin

Pick a result above.

Keys to the game

  • Health: 3 players are listed as out, so watch who steps into the rotation.
  • Home court is worth about three and a half points in our model, which helps the Lakers.

Recent meetings

  • Mar 14: DEN 125, LAL 127
  • Mar 5: LAL 113, DEN 120
  • Jan 20: LAL 115, DEN 107
  • Mar 19: DEN 108, LAL 120
  • Mar 14: LAL 126, DEN 131

Injury report

Denver Nuggets
  • Spencer Jones Day to day · back Oct 26
  • Julian Strawther Out · back Nov 29
  • Cameron Johnson Day to day · back Oct 26
  • Alpha Diallo Day to day · back Oct 26
Los Angeles Lakers
  • Cameron Carr Out · back Oct 27
  • Adou Thiero Out · back Oct 27
  • Walker Kessler Available

Win Meter

38%
62%
NuggetsLakers

Projected score: Nuggets 114, Lakers 117

Model estimate for information and entertainment.

Win Meter lab

The reading comes from the rating gap plus a bonus for home court and rest. Slide the bonus to see how much it matters.

38%
62%
NuggetsLakers

Matchup at a glance

DENLAL
Record1-12-0
Last 5LWLLWLLLWW
Points per game112.5126
Allowed per game115.5111
Days of rest––
Rating15901578

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