Lakers Injury Report: Denver Starter Dealing With Ankle Sprain Ahead Of LA Matchup

A tad hobbled ahead of the season opener.

Your Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets are set to face off to begin the 2023-2024 NBA regular season after months of trash talk and anticipation for this revenge match. 

LA already ruled out starter Jared Vanderbilt due to a heel injury but one of Denver's starters also faces a foot injury ahead of the first contest of the year. 

Michael Porter Jr. after practice just now: “I’m ready to go. Ankles take a while, but I’m ready to play…it was a Grade 3 ankle sprain.”

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) October 23, 2023

Porter Jr. struggled with inconsistency during the Nuggets' championship run but was their third-highest scorer in the regular season. 

The former lottery pick bounced back from numerous injuries early in his career to deliver Denver a title for the first time in their franchise history. 

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In 62 regular season games in 2023, the former Missouri product scored over 17 a game with five boards on an impressive near 42% from 3-point land. 

Defense remained a concern and coach Michael Malone opted against playing the forward in some key moments down the stretch. 

Off of multiple back surgeries, Porter Jr. still earned a significant extension in a show of continuity from Denver's front office. 

Nuggets GM Calvin Booth now has Porter Jr. and his four other starters under contract for the next two seasons and such consistency in their core will only strengthen their repeat bid this year. 

Nikola Jokic dominated the individual matchup against the Lakers' superstar Anthony Davis in the Western Conference Finals where he swept through LA with some help from his running mate Jamal Murray. 

A healthy postseason run from Denver showed just how dominant they could be and the defending champs welcome LA for the first game of the NBA season. 

LeBron James and his teammates have a chip on their shoulders due to the recent loss but are eager to get things going for a revenge tour to begin this season. 

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