Dec 15, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick (right) talks with guard Austin Reaves (15) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Imagesimage captionLos Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) reacts in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
Dec 15, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick (right) talks with guard Austin Reaves (15) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The odds were stacked against the Lakers going into Friday's matchup against the Denver Nuggets. At the end of a stretch of six games over eight nights, and missing key players in the rotation, nobody expected LA to put up a fight on the road at Ball Arena. Surprisingly, the game was highly competitive as multiple Lakers stepped up to fill their teammates' shoes -- but it wasn't enough to stop the Nuggets from securing the win (121-126).
The game began with a major offensive burst from the Lakers, who dropped 40 points in the first 12 minutes. The Nuggets responded with 39 points in the second to take a four-point lead into halftime. At this point, many fans expected the Lakers to collapse, but they held it together for a while and pushed Denver to the brink.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic carried them to victory with 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on 50% shooting. Jamal Murray dropped 26 points, four rebounds, and five assists on 56.3% shooting. Off the Bench, Russell Westbrook finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and seven assists on 3-6 shooting from three.
Austin Reaves was the hero for the Lakers with 37 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists in the loss. He also had four steals. Dalton Knecht wasn't too far behind with 32 points, two rebounds and one assist on 48.1% shooting. In 16 minutes, Bronny James scored five points, two rebounds, and one steal on 20% shooting.
This game was basically doomed from the start for the Lakers and it's a shame because they really needed a win tonight to snap their losing streak. In the end, they didn't have enough to overcome the Nuggets down the stretch, who are simply too good and too experienced to let this one slip.
Jamal Murray In the Clutch
The Lakers were giving the Nuggets a tough time all night long and had the offense completely out of rhythm. When it came down to the final minutes, however, Denver put their starters back in the game and they were able to carry their team to victory.
Specifically, it was a late three-pointer by Jamal Murray that iced the game. After setting a screen for Murray in their final possession, the point guard was able to get free for an open look which he nailed with ease to put the Nuggets up by three.
Murray was everywhere tonight, finishing with 26 points, four rebounds, and five assists on 5-9 shooting from three. He's been huge for the Nuggets this season and showed everyone tonight that he can still deliver in the big moments.
Valiant Effort For The Shorthanded Lakers
The story of the game was the Lakers missing four out of five starters, including LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Jaxson Hayes, and Rui Hachimura. Many fans expected it to be a blowout from the start, but JJ Redick had the group playing with energy and purpose on the court and they kept it close for most of the game.
Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht stepped up as the leading scorers and you could see they were trying to take control down the stretch. Reaves was brilliant tonight with 37 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists while Knecht made five threes in 37 minutes.
It was a total group effort for the Lakers tonight. Where some brought scoring, guys like Jarred Vanderbilt and Jordan Goodwin offered some resistance on defense that kept the Nuggets on their toes all night long.
Botched Play Finalized The Game
The Lakers were a shell of themselves tonight but they still managed to stay in the game until the very last play, when they had a chance to tie the game with a few seconds left.
With an opportunity to force overtime, the Lakers fumbled the final play of the game, which ultimately lost them the game. For some reason, Shake Milton tried to pass to the opposite end of the court which allowed Russell Westbrook to read the pass and intercept the ball for an easy dunk.
JJ Redick declined to comment on the play after the game but nothing else needs to be said. They had a major miscommunication and it's understandable given they didn't have their two leading playmakers on the floor.
Whether you love them or hate them, you have to commend the Lakers for their effort tonight. The Nuggets are hard enough to beat on their home floor and the task seemed impossible with so many players not in uniform. Ultimately, they failed to secure the win and Denver took care of business to move up to 43-24 this season. They are now second in the West standings.
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