Lakers Injury Report: 6’11 Forward Provides Major Boost to Halt Nikola Jokic After Game 1 Disappointment

The Los Angeles Lakers have received a major boost. This news comes just after their disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets in the round 1 of playoffs. The NBA insider Shams Charania has provided an update on the return of the Center of the Lakers who has been out of action since 14th of February.

Chris Wood May Return To The Action

The star center & power forward of the Lakers Chris Wood, who has been suffering from a knee injury, was sidelined from the action since 14th of February. Now, according to Charania, Chris Wood will return to action for the Lakers in Game 3, which takes place on Thursday in Los Angeles. His absence was a major blow to Lakers’ front court depth. He isn’t a regular starter, but he always makes valuable contributions coming off the bench. The 6’11 forward provides a major boost to the Lakers to stop Nikola Jokić.

Nikola Jokić dominated the round 1 of playoffs. He scored 32 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Wood provides a physical presence that the Lakers desperately lacked in Game 1. Wood has played 50 games for the Lakers this season. And he averages 6.9 points & 5.1 rebounds per game. The stats don’t tell much, but his contribution has been valuable. Anthony Davis struggled to stop Nikola Jokić in the game 1. Chris Wood’s ability to contest shots in the paint will be crucial in limiting Jokic’s opportunities and easy buckets inside.

The Road Ahead for Lakers

The return of Chris Wood provides a much-needed boost to the Lakers. The road ahead for the Lakers remains challenging. The battle between Jokic and Davis inside the paint will continue, and Wood’s return to the team will help to contain the MVP.

The Nuggets must not be underestimated. Jamal Murray along with Nikola Jokić are an unstoppable force in the offense. Jamal Murray scored 22 points in the game against the Lakers. He was also involved in 6 rebounds and 10 assists. Murray & Jokic performed well, and they were able to contain the defense of the Lakers. Austin Reaves struggled against them. The Nuggets are on a 5-game winning streak against the Lakers in the playoff. And overall, they are on a 9-game winning streak against the Lakers.

Ultimately, the series will depend on which team makes the necessary adjustments. The Lakers need to leverage their size and athleticism to limit Jokic’s dominance, while the Nuggets will aim to exploit any strategies created by Wood’s return into the lineup. With the stakes high, the game on Saturday at the Crypto.com Arena promises to be an amazing one.