The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 120-108, despite a sluggish performance after a dominant first quarter by Luka Doncic. Doncic scored 21 points in the first quarter alone, setting the tone for the game. The Nuggets, missing key players Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray due to injuries, were unable to overcome Doncic's early surge.
Doncic finished with 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. His strong inside and outside shooting created opportunities for his teammates. While he cooled off significantly after the first quarter, his presence facilitated many wide-open three-point shots for the Lakers throughout the game.
Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent, and Dalton Knecht combined for 10 three-pointers on 17 attempts, contributing significantly to the Lakers' win. Despite a strong fourth-quarter push by the Nuggets, the Lakers maintained their lead, securing a 12-point victory.
The absence of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray due to injuries significantly hampered the Nuggets' ability to compete. Nuggets coach Michael Malone emphasized that their absence was due to injuries, not rest.
The Lakers' win improved their record to 43-25 and gave them a 2-2 split against the Nuggets for the season. This could prove beneficial in tiebreaker scenarios if both teams are close in standings near the end of the regular season, although the match didn't offer much overall insight into the relative strengths of the two teams heading into the final four weeks.