Key Role Player Remains Ruled Out For Nuggets-Lakers Game

Mo Bamba remains ruled out for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

On Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers are hosting the Denver Nuggets for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in California.   

The Nuggets won both games at home, so they have a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.   

For Game 3, the Lakers will remain without backup center Mo Bamba, who has missed the last eight games due to an ankle injury. 

Via Underdog NBA: "Status alert: Mo Bamba (ankle) listed out for Saturday."

Status alert: Mo Bamba (ankle) listed out for Saturday.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) May 19, 2023

Through the first two games, the Nuggets have 26 more rebounds than the Lakers. 

Bamba has only played in three games during the Playoffs, but he is the tallest player on the roster and could help the Lakers on the glass. 

A key stat: over the first 2 games of the series, the Nuggets have an offensive rebound % of 30%/13 per game. The Lakers' is 16%/4.5 per game, and LAL had multiple attempts at offensive boards turn into DEN fast breaks going the other way. Improvement on the glass is a must

— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) May 20, 2023

The former Texas star was the sixth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and spent the first four and a half seasons of his career with the Orlando Magic (before being traded in February). 

This season, Bamba averaged 6.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest while shooting 48.5% from the field and 38.7% from the three-point range. 

Lakers trade Pat Beverley to the Magic for Mo Bamba, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/qIDzhYpXpr

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 9, 2023

The Lakers finished the regular season as the seventh seed in the Western Conference and defeated the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors in the first two rounds (both in six games).  

As for the Nuggets, they are the first seed and have beaten the Minnesota Timberwolves (in five games) and Phoenix Suns (in six games). 

The winner of the series will advance to the 2023 NBA Finals and face off against the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics. 

More on the Los Angeles Lakers can be read here