The Los Angeles Lakers will have one more chance to salvage what has turned into a promising season when they take the court against the Denver Nuggets on Monday. They trail the Western Conference Finals 3-0 and will not want to get swept in front of their home fans.
Guard Jamal Murray has chewed them up and spit them out so far, and he has scored 31, 37 and 37 points in the first three games of the series. But another problem has been Nikola Jokic, the two-time MVP who is averaging 27.0 points a game in the series and has already had two triple-doubles.
Los Angeles has been at a major disadvantage when he has been on the floor and Anthony Davis has been resting. But it should have an option to go to during such situations for Game 4, as center Mo Bamba is expected to be available after being out since the end of the first round due to an ankle injury.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham tells @NBAonTNT he expects center Mo Bamba (ankle) to be available for Game 4 vs. Nuggets on Monday.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 21, 2023
Right after arriving in a February trade, Bamba immediately found a spot in the team’s rotation. But he suffered a first ankle injury in early March, and ever since returning from it, he has only gotten scant playing time in garbage time.