Our ratings lean toward the Nuggets at home against the Lakers on Friday, February 26, at about 65%. That is a real edge, but the Lakers are far from out of it.
How the Win Meter reads
The Win Meter reads the Nuggets 65%, with a projected score of Los Angeles Lakers 113, Denver Nuggets 116. The rating gap is 7 points in favor of the Nuggets, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Nuggets on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 35 times in 100 games like this, the Lakers would win.
Recent form
The Lakers are 3-0 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of +2.2. The Nuggets are 1-1 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -4.4.
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.
The Nuggets were beaten 112-96 on the road by MIN not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Out: Cameron Carr (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026, Adou Thiero (LAL), expected back Oct 27, 2026, Spencer Jones (DEN), expected back Oct 28, 2026, and Julian Strawther (DEN), expected back Nov 29, 2026.
Day to day or questionable: Cameron Johnson (DEN) and Alpha Diallo (DEN). 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.