Nuggets' Veteran Depth Gets the Edge on a Thin Lakers Group in Preseason

Injuries and rest designations leave the Lakers with more questions than Denver in this preseason meeting.

DEN @ LAL Oct 17, 2026 at 2:30 AM UTC

The Lakers' health report is the biggest storyline in this preseason game. Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton and Ziaire Williams are all listed among the injured, which affects both who is available and who starts. That is a lot of rotation uncertainty for a team that, with the preseason about halfway done, still hasn't settled the two spots beside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Quentin Grimes looks like the most likely answer at one of those spots. His shooting and defense fit what the starting group needs, and he has been one of the Lakers' preseason standouts. Sandro Mamukelashvili, another free-agent addition, has also stood out and could see a larger role if the injuries keep opening minutes. For Los Angeles, this game is about auditioning those depth pieces more than polishing a finished rotation.

The rest designations add another layer. Doncic is questionable for rest, and so is DeMar DeRozan, who joined Denver this offseason as part of a veteran rotation. If both sit, the game turns into a contest between bench units. Denver's side is helped by that veteran experience, though Spencer Jones is questionable with a hamstring issue and could thin its forward depth.

I give Denver the slight edge. The Lakers have more unanswered questions in their lineup, and a preseason night with so many missing or resting players tends to favor the roster with clearer roles. Grimes and Mamukelashvili should keep Los Angeles competitive, and Reaves can keep the offense organized if Doncic sits. Still, Denver's added experience should be enough to hold on late.

Prediction: Nuggets 112, Lakers 108.

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