LA Lakers Outplay Denver Nuggets in Colorado, 105-96

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center tonight, posting their 18th win of the season. LeBron and the guys won 105-96, defeating the team which was right behind them on the Western Conference standings. It was very important for the team from LA to forget the recent loss against the Mavs and continue their campaign successfully. Lakers are currently first in the West ahead the Nuggets, and the Clippers who defeated the Trail Blazers tonight.

“We just came here with a great mindset, ” said James. “We got four or five, maybe six or seven guys battling the flue right now, but sometimes that is the best way to lock in. Everybody picked each other up.”

It was a hard-fought match for the LAL, who did have the lead throughout the entire game but couldn’t break the hosts. On several occasions, the Nuggets were threatening to take the lead, yet they couldn’t do it. Though, it is interesting that Micheal Malone’s guys were ahead just once in this contest. The best thing they could do was to open the game with 5-0, and after that, it was all about being behind the purple and gold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXoOqaY7JwA

The Lakers had a tight lead at the end of the first, 28-24, but extended that as time went by in the second. After Anthony Davis’ free throw, with 1:11 to go, the guests pulled away to 57-45, and they kept a double-digit lead at the halftime.

However, a 15-4 run of the home team at the start of the second period ignited the fans at the Pepsi Center. When Nuggets tied at 64-all, many believed that it is their time to turn the tables in this match. Still, LeBron and the guys responded, stopping that surge and rebuffing the push.

Again, until the end of the period, the Lakers consolidated and regained control of the game, They were constantly up 5 to 10 points, and the only time Denver was close, happened with 2:23 to go. Jokic made free throws to cut down the deficit to one point, 97-96, but Lakers scored 8 unanswered points to finish the match, not allowing the hosts to get a single one.

Both Davis and LeBron had 25 points apiece, also having the same shooting percentage from the field, 9 for 18. AD posted 10 boards, while James had 9 assists and 6 rebounds. Davis was excellent in defense tonight stopping Jokic.

“You saw what he did in the fourth quarter, not only against the Joker, but against Jamal Murray to as well on those last couple of possessions,” LBJ explained.

Dwight Howard had a nice role, with 13 buckets and 6 boards in 19 minutes. Rajon Rondo added 11 with 6 boards and dimes each.

“The bench was incredible,”he added. “It  was a great road win for us.”

.@KingJames talks with @LakersReporter about the #Lakers battling for each other, AD's impact vs. the Nuggets, and the mindset going into tomorrow's back-to-back in Utah. pic.twitter.com/dyDTZC5BzH

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) December 4, 2019

It is unbelievable that Lakers had 56 rebounds and Nuggets just 35. Since the season started nobody had outrebounded the Nuggets this much, and it is probably the most important reason for their fifth loss of the season.

Another one is Nikola Jokic’s bad performance. The All-NBA center scored just 13 points, with 8 assists and 5 boards, and a 4 for 12 shooting.

Jamal Murray had 22 buckets, while Paul Millsap added 21. These three players were the only ones with a double-digit number of points among the hosts.

Denver heads for New York to face the Knicks on Friday, and after that plays against the Celtics in Boston.

As for the LAL, they play in Salt Lake City already tomorrow, and then in Portland on Friday.