Nikola-less Nuggets blown out by LeBron-less Lakers

It was who’s left standing in Los Angeles as all of LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray sat for a late-season clash of the Lakers and Denver Nuggets, resulting in a 120-108 win for the home squad.

Led by Luka Doncic’s 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, the Lakers sped out to a 28-point lead and never looked back. Unlike the Nuggets’ effort on Monday without their two stars, it was a slow start for Denver and their defense didn’t play with a point to prove. Aaron Gordon was again solid, scoring 26 points on 14 shots with 10 rebounds and Peyton Watson flashed another time too—but the calvary didn’t come until too late. Each team’s deep reserves played the fourth quarter, with Denver going on a 31-9 run to make the final way closer than it actually was.

“They jumped us, Luka jumped us, had us on our heels. We didn’t have the same urgency that we had to start that Golden State game,” Michael Malone said. “We got our butts kicked, 19 turnovers for 30 points isn’t going to allow you to win many games but we just gotta find a way to get healthy.”

Murray was injured late in Saturday’s loss to the Wizards, after hitting a game-winner against the Lakers last Friday. He stayed in the contest after turning his ankle but was clearly hampered. He didn’t play Monday or Wednesday and neither has Jokic, who has been limping with a leg issue for a few weeks and then was bashed with an elbow bruise about 10 days ago. Jokic had been playing through the pain but he was clearly not 100%.

“We’ll have a better answer tomorrow for going into our next game but I think Jamal is closer than Nikola,” Malone said of his players’ health. “They want to play and they understand how valuable these games are but we have to do right by them and make sure these things don’t become more concerning.”

With the loss to the Lakers (43-25), Denver (44-26) ties the season series and thus can not win the main tiebreaker. The two teams are tied for third in the West, a game behind Houston (45-25) who won on Wednesday. But losses around the West on the night by the Grizzlies (43-27) and the Wolves(40-31)—keep the Nuggets above fifth-seeded Memphis and well ahead of Minnesota on the Play-In line.

“Our inability to take care of the ball, we’re struggling in transition on defense and a lot of times that starts with live-ball turnovers. That’s been a theme for our team, not taking care of it. Three-point defense and defense overall,” Malone said. “If our defense doesn’t improve, it’s going to be really hard to finish up these final 12 games on a high note with the quality of teams were playing and trading baskets.”

The Nuggets continue their four-game trip against Portland on Friday, as they try to extend a three-game winning streak. Then Denver heads to Houston on Sunday for a big contest standings-wise against the Rockets—they’ve won seven in a row but have a two-game swing through Florida before hosting the Nuggets.

Denver’s hot streak of 14 wins in 15 tries against the Lakers including two playoff knockouts, gets replaced by two Los Angeles wins in a row.