After losing four of their last five meetings, the Lakers needed to react at home. Problem: the nuggetsundefeated for three games, moved to town to face them and this duel was, on paper, not ideal to revive.
All the more when Anthony Davis was unable to return to the court after half-time due to a foot injury. But LeBron James (30 points, 9 rebounds) and especially the amazing Thomas Bryant (21 points, 6 rebounds!) were fortunately there to carry Los Angeles in this poster facing Nikola Jokic (25 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals) and Jamal Murray (23 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists).
On arrival, the Californians therefore win in the great widths (126-108), thanks to their thunderous awakening after being behind by ten points in the second half.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— After his run scathing, Los Angeles didn’t fall apart this time. As against the Celtics on Tuesday night, the Lakers signed a big run (39-12) straddling the third and fourth quarters. Except that, unlike the last time, they didn’t break down and they managed to keep their lead until the end. Boosted by several 3-point baskets (12 in total) and taking advantage of an absentee defense on the Nuggets side, especially in the paint, the “Purple & Gold” blew up Nikola Jokic’s teammates in just a few minutes, while the latter seemed in control after the break.
— Thomas Bryant, the unexpected hero. After Anthony Davis’ injury exit, Darvin Ham decided to trust Bryant to replace him in the five and his imposing pivot gave it back to him. Author of his best game of the season, he did not stop hurting the Nuggets (and in particular Nikola Jokic) in the paint, thanks to his boundless energy and his incessant activity on the offensive rebound. The kind of performance that is both welcome to make you forget the time of an “AD” evening, the interior that usually takes all the light in Los Angeles.
— Anthony Davis’ injury exit. A half-time and then leaves. Too handicapped by his right foot injury, “AD” could not go beyond the break, ending the game with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 counter. From now on, it will be necessary to monitor his state of health, because this loss would obviously have serious consequences for the Lakers, already in the hard collectively, if it were to be confirmed over time. Especially since Thomas Bryant will not be able to reproduce this kind of performance every night.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ LeBron James. Besides Thomas Bryant, Austin Reaves (16 points), Russell Westbrook (15 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists), Dennis Schröder (15 points) or even Patrick Beverley and rookie Max Christie all brought good chances in attack and in the ‘energy. But it is above all the inevitable “LBJ”, orphan of Anthony Davis along the way, who showed the way to the Lakers in this meeting. Rather specific to the shoot (13/20) and author of a few highlights good to him, the quadruple MVP dominated without forcing and knew when to raise his voice or let his teammates do the work for him. The perfect balance, then.
⛔ The Denver Collapse. Leading by ten points (79-67) in the second half, thanks to the many efforts of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets then lost the thread from the moment they let Thomas Bryant rule in the painting. A big one followed run in favor of the Lakers, from which Michael Malone’s men have never been able to recover. Overwhelmed in defense and disorderly in attack, they accumulated oversights and bad choices, greatly facilitating the task of LeBron James’ teammates, who did not ask so much to get this victory.
THE FOLLOWING
Los Angeles (12-16) : reception of Washington, on the night of Sunday to Monday (03:30).
Denver (17-11) : reception of Charlotte, on the night of Sunday to Monday (02:00).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
