Game ID: 22400808
Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets
Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 8:30 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 31 23 33 13 100LAL 38 25 33 27 123
DEN vs LAL ScoutingDEN vs LAL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Westbrook missed 4 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Watson missed 4 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 12 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 2/01 after 3, 18 min since (139% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 2/03 after 2, 11 min since (99% of 12)
BACK Nnaji back 2/01 after 3, 21 min since (204% of 10)
DEN availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Westbrook missed 5 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Watson missed 5 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 13 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 2/01 after 3, 18 min since (139% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 2/03 after 2, 13 min since (110% of 12)
BACK Nnaji back 2/01 after 3, 21 min since (204% of 10)
NEW Strawther 20 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 2/08, out tonight
OUT Westbrook missed 6 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Watson missed 6 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 14 since 1/17, returns tonight: 8 min (58% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 2/03 after 2, 13 min since (111% of 12)
NEW Strawther 20 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 13 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 20 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 2/08, returns tonight: 29 min (87% of 33)
OUT Westbrook missed 7 since 2/01, returns tonight: 26 min (94% of 27)
OUT Watson missed 7 since 2/01, out tonight
BACK Šarić back 2/12 after 14, 8 min since (58% of 13)
NEW Strawther 20 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 13 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 8 since 2/01, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 29 min since (87% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 26 min since (94% of 27)
BACK Šarić back 2/12 after 14, 8 min since (58% of 13)
NEW Strawther 20 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 13 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Nnaji 10 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 9 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 2 since 2/20, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 30 min since (89% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 25 min since (91% of 27)
NEW Strawther 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 13 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Nnaji 10 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/27 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 10 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 3 since 2/20, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 31 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 24 min since (89% of 27)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 22 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 11 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 4 since 2/20, returns tonight: 4 min (27% of 13)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 32 min since (96% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 25 min since (90% of 27)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 20 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 12 since 2/01, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 33 min since (100% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 24 min since (88% of 27)
BACK Šarić back 2/28 after 4, 4 min since (27% of 13)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 17 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Knecht missed 2 since 2/06, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 5 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 2/01 after 3, 24 min since (115% of 21)
BACK Morris back 2/08 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 16)
BACK Jemison III back 1/30 after 4, 9 min since (88% of 10)
NEW Hayes 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Milton 11 to 20 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Knecht missed 3 since 2/06, returns tonight: 17 min (89% of 19)
OUT Reddish missed 6 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 2/01 after 3, 23 min since (109% of 21)
BACK Morris back 2/08 after 2, 6 min since (40% of 16)
NEW Hayes 19 to 25 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/19 · 6 days' restOUT Reddish missed 7 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 17 min since (89% of 19)
BACK Morris back 2/08 after 2, 7 min since (43% of 16)
LAL availability going into 2/20 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 8 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 14 min (138% of 10)
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 15 min since (80% of 19)
BACK Morris back 2/08 after 2, 7 min since (43% of 16)
LAL availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 9 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 2 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (77% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 14 min since (138% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Reddish missed 10 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 13 min since (70% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 11 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 4 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 12 min since (67% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 12 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 5 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Len missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 22 min (214% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 13 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 6 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 8 min (78% of 11)
OUT Len missed 3 since 2/25, out tonight
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 13 min since (128% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 110, shooting 54 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 34 and Jokić at 30 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Watson (8 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 27 and Reaves at 24 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Reddish (9 straight), Morris (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to the Lakers' 34 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 12. Call it Denver 120, the Lakers 112.
2/08 @ PHX 122-105 — DEN notes
DEN won 122-105. DEN shot 49% (45 of 92) to PHX's 39%, 16 of 35 from three. The glass went 56-43 for them. Murray led with 30 (12 of 23, 6 of 9 from three); Jokić added 26, Strawther 18. The hinge was Q3, 35-26: a lead of 8 became 17, and the lead reached 23. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/10 vs POR 146-117 — DEN notes
DEN won 146-117. DEN shot 66% (60 of 91) to POR's 45%, 8 of 25 from three, and got to the line 20 times to POR's 26. DEN turned it over 8 times to POR's 16. Jokić led with 40 (15 of 22, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Braun added 26, Strawther 18. The hinge was Q1, 38-27: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
2/12 vs POR 132-121 — DEN notes
DEN won 132-121. DEN shot 51% (49 of 96) to POR's 46%, 15 of 38 from three. Murray led with 55 (20 of 36, 7 of 15 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Jokić added 26, Braun 21. The hinge was Q1, 40-27: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/20 vs CHA 129-115 — DEN notes
DEN won 129-115. DEN shot 50% (49 of 98) to CHA's 43%, 19 of 43 from three. The glass went 55-45 for them. Murray led with 34 (12 of 18, 7 of 10 from three); Jokić added 29, Gordon 18. The hinge was Q4, 30-19: a lead of 3 became 14. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/22 vs LAL 100-123 — DEN notes
DEN lost 100-123. DEN shot 40% (34 of 85) to LAL's 50%, 16 of 41 from three. DEN turned it over 20 times to LAL's 8, and LAL turned those into 15 steals. Gordon led with 24 (9 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Murray added 19, Westbrook 17. Q3 was theirs, 33-33, but the other 3 periods went 90-67 against them. Murray's -28 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Haliburton at 21 and Siakam at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Isa. Jackson (49 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 31 and Jokić at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Watson (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-2 and the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to Indiana's 36. Call it Denver 120, Indiana 119, Indiana keeping it close.
2/27 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 23 and Lillard at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Portis (4 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 28 and Jokić at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Watson (10 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-8 a night and Milwaukee minus-7 and the defense, Milwaukee allowing 105 a night to Denver's 118. Call it Milwaukee 116, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
2/28 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Cunningham at 29 and Beasley at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Harper Jr. (9 straight), Fontecchio (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Murray at 29 and Jokić at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Watson (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the line, where Detroit takes 27 free throws a game to Denver's 17 and the defense, Detroit allowing 111 a night to Denver's 119. Call it Detroit 121, Denver 114.
3/02 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 13 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 26 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Watson (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-9 a night and Boston minus-2 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 12. Call it Boston 117, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
2/10 vs UTA 132-113 — LAL notes
LAL won 132-113. LAL shot 54% (50 of 92) to UTA's 46%, 15 of 42 from three, and got to the line 18 times to UTA's 27. LAL turned it over 11 times to UTA's 19. James led with 24 (10 of 17, 3 of 7 from three); Reaves added 22, Hachimura 21. The hinge was Q2, 35-22: a lead of 12 became 25, and the lead reached 34. Reaves was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
2/12 @ UTA 119-131 — LAL notes
LAL lost 119-131. LAL shot 45% (41 of 92) to UTA's 52%, 20 of 50 from three. Hachimura led with 19 (8 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); L. James added 18, Dončić 16. Q4 was theirs, 33-27, the deficit cut from 18 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 104-86 against them. Dončić's -19 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/19 vs CHA 97-100 — LAL notes
LAL lost 97-100. LAL shot 41% (37 of 90) to CHA's 36%, 15 of 51 from three. James led with 26 (10 of 22, 4 of 11 from three); Hachimura added 17, Dončić 14. Q1 was theirs, 28-21, but the other 3 periods went 79-69 against them. They led by as many as 13. Vanderbilt's -17 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/20 @ POR 110-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 110-102. LAL shot 48% (39 of 82) to POR's 44%, 9 of 32 from three. LAL turned it over 22 times to POR's 17, and POR turned those into 16 steals. The glass went 48-33 for them. James led with 40 (14 of 24, 4 of 8 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Reaves added 32, Finney-Smith 10. The hinge was Q1, 28-15: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/22 @ DEN 123-100 — LAL notes
LAL won 123-100. LAL shot 50% (43 of 86) to DEN's 40%, 16 of 41 from three. LAL turned it over 8 times to DEN's 20. Dončić led with 32 (10 of 22, 4 of 9 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); James added 25, Reaves 23. The hinge was Q4, 27-13: a lead of 9 became 23, and the lead reached 26. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/25 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 27 and Reaves at 20 a game. Without Reddish (10 straight), Morris (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 31 and Thompson at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Davis (5 straight), Lively II (18 straight), Gafford (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-3 a night and Dallas minus-10 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 109 a night to Dallas's 116. Call it the Lakers 116, Dallas 111.
2/27 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; James at 27 and Dončić at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Reddish (11 straight), Morris (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Reid at 23 a game. Without Randle (11 straight), Gobert (4 straight), DiVincenzo (19 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 106 a night to Minnesota's 117 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 15 times a game to Minnesota's 11. Call it the Lakers 114, Minnesota 110, Minnesota keeping it close.
2/28 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; James at 30 and Dončić at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (12 straight), Morris (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 27 and Zubac at 15 a game. Without Powell (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to the Clippers' 117 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and the Clippers minus-2. Call it the Lakers 112, the Clippers 109, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/02 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 28 free throws a game; James at 31 and Dončić at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Reddish (13 straight), Morris (6 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 24 and Leonard at 21 a game. Without Powell (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to the Clippers' 115 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-0. Call it the Lakers 113, the Clippers 107.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
HT H. Tyson
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PH P. Hall
RW R. Westbrook
SJ S. Jones
ZN Z. Nnaji
LALAL A. Len
AR A. Reaves
DF D. Finney-Smith
DK D. Knecht
DO Doncic
GV G. Vincent
JG J. Goodwin
JH J. Hayes
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
RH R. Hachimura
SM S. Milton
TJ T. Jemison III
DEN/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Lakers snap Nuggets' 9-game winning streak behind Luka Doncic's best game yet for LA
DENVER -- — Luka Doncic scored 32 points in his best game by far with the Lakers, leading Los Angeles to a 123-100 runaway win at Denver on Saturday night that snapped the Nuggets' nine-game winning streak.
LeBron James added 25 points, Austin Reaves scored 23 and Rui Hachimura had 21 when he left holding his left side with 10 minutes remaining — the Lakers didn't miss him, going on a 12-2 run to stretch their lead to 19.
The Lakers never trailed in winning in Denver for the first time since April 10, 2022. They had lost 13 of their previous 14 against the Nuggets.
Doncic averaged 14.7 points in his first three games with the Lakers. He surpassed that less than 10 minutes in and had 19 points by halftime with the Lakers up 63-54.
Aaron Gordon scored 24 points and Jamal Murray 19 for Denver, which lost for the first time this month. Nikola Jokic posted his 26th triple-double of the season, but he was just 2 of 7 from the floor with six turnovers.
The Nuggets have never won 10 in a row during coach Michael Malone's decade in Denver.
Takeaways Lakers: Los Angeles returns home for a season-high six-game homestand that begins Tuesday night with a visit from the Dallas Mavericks as Doncic faces his former team for the first time since the Feb. 2 trade that sent him to LA for Anthony Davis .
Nuggets: The loss takes a little bit of shine off the Nuggets' recent roll. None of their nine consecutive wins came against teams currently in the top six of their conference.
Key moment After allowing the Nuggets to score the first eight points of the second half to pull to 63-62, the Lakers went on a 10-0 run sparked by James’ dunk and capped by Doncic’s 3.
Key stat Both teams were 16 of 41 from long range.
Up next The Lakers host the Mavericks Tuesday night and the Nuggets visit Indiana on Monday night.