The defending champs come into the playoffs on a roll, and its experienced core could be too much for L.A. Michael C. Wright LeBron James will have to turn in another vintage series if the Lakers hope to upset Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets. • Download the ...

The Denver Nuggets will be shorthanded against the Los Angeles Lakers.

DENVER — Even with both teams eventually down multiple key players, Thursday night at Ball Arena was the Lakers’ biggest test against a potential Western Conference playoff team in nearly a month. And they learned more about what it’ll take to compete with the other top teams in the West,