The Denver Nuggets aim to recover from a tough 20-point defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night at Ball Arena. The Lakers, currently on a three-game losing streak, are also looking to turn things around. Alongside the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets, both teams are competing for position behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference standings. Heading into Friday, Denver and Memphis share a 42-24 record, but the Nuggets sit third due to a division record tiebreaker after splitting their season series 1-1. This tiebreaker could also come into play against the Lakers, who trail by just one game at 40-24.

This adds even more weight to Friday’s showdown, as the teams have already split the first two games of their four-game season series. That makes the availability of Nikola Jokic, Denver’s MVP-caliber star, especially crucial. Jokic continues to battle a left ankle issue, officially listed as an impingement on the NBA’s March 14 injury report. In addition, he is now dealing with a right elbow contusion.

Despite these injuries, Jokic remains probable for Friday’s matchup, having not missed a game since January 15, despite appearing on the injury report for six consecutive games. Three other Nuggets players—Jamal Murray (knee), Zeke Nnaji (ankle), and Christian Braun (foot)—are also listed as probable and are expected to play.

However, Aaron Gordon’s status remains uncertain. The veteran forward is listed as questionable due to right calf management and a left ankle sprain. Gordon has already missed the last two games and five of the last seven. The Nuggets have posted a 17-11 record in his absence this season. The first two matchups between Denver and Los Angeles were blowout victories for the road team—Denver won by 25 points in L.A. in November, while the Lakers won by 23 in Denver in February. As they return home on Friday, the Nuggets will look to break that pattern and secure a key vic

tory.