The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 102-95 at Staples Center on October 16th. The win pushed the Lakers preseason record to 2-2 while dropping the Nuggets to 2-2 as well. Denver outscored Los Angeles by ten points in the fourth quarter, but the game was well in hand by that point.

Kobe Bryant put up 18 points in 24 minutes to lead the two time defending champions. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol each scored in double figures for the Lakers while putting in significant minutes as starters. Ron Artest only managed 9 points did have two blocks, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. Devin Ebanks scored 14 points to lead the Lakers bench. Shannon Brown and Matt Barnes also contributed key points off the bench. The Lakers had several players out, including Andrew Bynum and Sasha Vujacic.

The Denver Nuggets were especially depleted in the game. Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Chris Birdman Anderson, and Al Harrington did not play in the game. Only 9 players contributed minutes for the Nuggets. Arron Affalo had 20 points in 30 minutes. Nene had 13 points and JR Smith added 12 out of the starting lineup. Renaldo Balkman and Ty Lawson each played over 30 minutes off the bench and each scored in double figures. As a team, Denver had 20 turnovers and no blocks. That helped make the difference in the final score.

The Denver Nuggets had a turbulent offseason. The situation involving the future of star player Carmelo Anthony stole all of the headlines in the summer. It remains to be seen if Denver will trade Anthony during the season or not. After reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2009, Denver regressed and lost in the first round in 2010. The health of Coach George Karl is also a big question mark. Denver was often undisciplined and failed to close out games. That is something that needs to change if Denver is going to return to elite status. Meanwhile, the Lakers are seeking another threepeat as NBA champions. With Bryant, Artest, and Gasol, the Lakers have a big three to rival any in the league. They are deep and well coached with Phil Jackson returning another season. The Lakers are the favorites to win the NBA title once again. The health of Bynum has been a question mark in recent seasons and his knee issues aren’t going away. Even without Bynum, the Lakers are still the most formidable team in the league.

The Cavaliers have known the truth since seven days after the opening of free agency. Now, with preseason underway and the regular season starting in a few weeks, they’re seeing the truth.

One of the few point guards that could have stopped John Wall Thursday night left to take his talents to South Beach.

Playing their second game in the post-LeBron James era, Cleveland found themselves against a team that was just like them. John Wall is to Washington now what LeBron James was to Cleveland when they drafted him first in the 2003 Draft. Wall is the future of Washington, a number one draft pick with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders, and after a rough start in Thursday’s game, he showed why the Wizards are talking playoffs. Wall struggled in the first three quarters before connecting on his next five shots, an array of jumpers and drives to the hoop. His scoring will improve with each game and with experience, but the most impressive statistic Wall put up besides scoring was his nine assists. With the majority of Wall’s baskets coming from easy layups off the fastbreak, Washington is showing themselves as a new and improved team that likes to run. As facilitator and playmaker both, John Wall has shown himself in his NBA debut to be a point guard to be reckoned with for years to come. The Wizards are happy to be taken along for the ride.

Under a new coach and with many new players, Cleveland is using the preseason not as a way to test themselves against other teams, but to test themselves for how well they can play without their former superstar. Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison are nursing injuries and Zydrunas Ilgauskas followed his teammate to Miami. Only two of Cleveland’s five starters scored in double digits. There wasn’t a player on the roster that shot the ball consistently, what is sure to be an area of concern as Cleveland moves forward. Hickson had the most free throws and the most overall points of the night, but the others seemed sluggish and unsure. To move forward, they’ll have to get better and play together.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the rest of the preason to figure out a way to win without LeBron James. They have no choice.

They’ll be the first ones to tell you they wish they did.