Lakers-Nuggets playoff rematch highlights NBA TV tripleheader

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The last time the Nuggets and Lakers met was in the first round of the 2024 playoffs, when Denver ended Los Angeles’ season for the second straight year.

Since the 2022-23 campaign, the Nuggets are 8-1 against the Lakers in the playoffs and 5-2 in the regular season for a total record of 13-3.

In their first meeting of 2024-25, a red-hot LeBron James and Anthony Davis will look to flip the script against a scorching Nikola Jokić as the two sides cap Saturday’s tripleheader on NBA TV (10:30 ET).

• LBJ & AD: Despite Orlando ending Los Angeles’ six-game win streak on Thursday, Davis (39) and James (31) combined for 70 points, marking their 15th game where they each scored 30+, the third most of any duo in Lakers history.
• Stat Stuffers: While Davis is second in the NBA in scoring with a career-high 31.3 points per game, James is one of two players to be averaging 20+ points, 7+ rebounds and 10+ assists in his last seven outings with 24.0 ppg, 9.9 rpg and 11.3 apg.
• The other player who joins him? Jokić, who is averaging a triple-double on the season and will look to notch his sixth straight tonight.
• Jokić’s numbers are just as ridiculous in Denver’s 16 meetings with Los Angeles since 2022-23, as he’s posting 27.1 ppg, 14.0 rpg and 10.1 apg with seven triple-doubles.
• “I know how great Joker is,” said LeBron after their 2023 playoff duel. “He sees plays before they happen. There’s not many guys in our league like that … He’s special.”

Knicks at Jazz (5 ET): To open Saturday’s tripleheader, Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz will look to slow down Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks’ potent offense.

• NY Heater: After scoring a season-high 134 points in a win over Washington on Monday, the Knicks topped it in a 138-122 victory over the Suns on Wednesday, marking their fourth straight win.
• Big Apple Balance: Wednesday also marked the 11th game this season in which all five Knick starters scored in double figures, which leads the NBA.

Grizzlies at Bulls (8 ET): In prime time, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies will look to notch a second straight win as they visit Zach LaVine and the Bulls in an early-season rematch.

• Round 1 Rewind: In their first meeting in October, LaVine dropped 30 points to help Chicago erase a 20-point deficit for a 126-123 win.
• Bear Territory: Desmond Bane and Jackson combined for 49 points for Memphis, which is averaging a league-high 58.5 points in the paint this season.

Four more games get underway on League Pass, beginning with Jaden Ivey and the Pistons traveling to Orlando to face Franz Wagner and the Magic, who are 7-0 at home.