The Los Angeles Lakers were just 52 seconds away from pulling off a major road win against the Denver Nuggets, but a late 8-0 run by Denver sealed a 131-126 defeat. The loss marked LA's fourth straight and dropped them from second to fifth in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers were heavily shorthanded, missing LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes due to injuries. Despite this, Austin Reaves stepped up in a big way, recording 37 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists. He also made history, becoming the first Laker since Kobe Bryant to log 20+ points and 10+ assists in a half (via Lakers).
Rookie Dalton Knecht (32 points) and Shake Milton (16 points, five rebounds) also made key contributions. However, their efforts weren't enough to overcome the dominance of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
After the game, Reaves was asked about Jokic's impact and gave him the highest praise:
"Probably the best in the world," Reaves admitted.
Austin Reaves calls Nikola Jokic "probably the best in the world"
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) March 15, 2025
Jokic has been putting up historic numbers this season, averaging a triple-double with 29.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists. Arguably the best player in the world right now, he ranks in the top three in all three categories this season and is an MVP candidate.
With the win, the Nuggets solidify their spot as the No. 2 seed in the West (43-24), while the Lakers slip to fifth (40-25) as they return home for a crucial matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Related: JJ Redick Assigns Blame After Lakers' Loss to Nuggets
Related: Russell Westbrook Makes NBA History in Lakers Game
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 12:20 PM.