The Scoop: Leonard returned from a nine-game absence during Tuesday's matchup against Dallas and continues to deal with knee inflammation ahead of Friday's game. However, his presence at shootaround is encouraging, and he appears to be trending in the right direction in the hours leading up to tipoff.

 The Scoop: Livingston has been downgraded from doubtful to out Friday due to a non-COVID illness. His next chance to suit up will be Game 4 on Sunday.

 The Scoop: Jackson appeared to be dealing with an ankle injury when heading to the locker room in the third quarter, and he didn't see the court during the final frame. Coach Michael Malone said after the game that Jackson was close to not playing in Game 3, so the coaching staff has had conversations about what to do in case he can't suit up for Saturday's Game 4. Since the Nuggets claimed a 3-0 lead in the series following Thursday's win, it wouldn't be surprising to see the team be cautious with Jackson's health.

 The Scoop: Reaves had two subpar showings in the first two games of the series, and even though he bounced back in Game 3, his efforts were not enough to lift the Lakers to victory. Reaves will aim to replicate these numbers in Game 4 on Saturday, as the Lakers need to win to avoid a first-round exit. Reaves is averaging 14.7 points per game in the series while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from deep.

 The Scoop: James had another strong showing, but as has been the trend throughout the series, the Lakers couldn't hold on to their lead and ended up losing, falling into an 0-3 deficit and having their backs against the wall. James has done everything in his power to counter Denver, reaching the 25-point mark in all three of his appearances in the series while averaging 26.3 points, 9.7 assists and 6.7 rebounds across 40.3 minutes per contest.

 The Scoop: Batum continues to do very little on offense despite playing meaningful minutes, highlighting the 76ers' lack of depth. Although he did manage three combined steals and blocks, the team would likely love for him to have scored more than four points. Given the 76ers have very few options when it comes to somewhat reliable producers, Batum should continue to play a significant role moving forward.

 The Scoop: Harris continues to come up short for the 76ers, scoring no more than 10 points for the third straight playoff game. He is averaging just 8.3 points per game thus far, well below where he needs to be if they are to make any real noise during the postseason. Look for Harris to try and turn things around in Game 4 on Sunday.

 The Scoop: Bogdanovic was a non-factor in the loss, playing only 13 minutes. At this point, his playing time is completely reliant on whether his shot is falling, something it was not doing Thursday. New York will look to bounce back Sunday when the two teams face off once again.

 The Scoop: Jackson exited the game in the second half and was deemed questionable at the start of the fourth quarter, but given he was limping badly when exiting to the locker room, his chances of returning to the hardwood aren't very high. Jackson was spotted with his ankle wrapped in heat as well. If he can't return, then Christian Braun and Justin Holiday should see more minutes off the bench.

 The Scoop: As is usually the case, James was carrying a probable tag prior to this update due to lingering left ankle soreness. James is not expected to have any restrictions as the Lakers attempt to pick up their first win of the series.