Game ID: 22401006
Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 46 27 32 15 120DEN 29 30 18 31 108
DEN @ LAL ScoutingDEN @ 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.
LAL availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Hachimura missed 6 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 18 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 11 since 2/19, returns tonight: 12 min (77% of 16)
BACK Reaves back 3/06 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Goodwin back 3/08 after 3, 20 min since (115% of 17)
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 11 min since (101% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/04 after 4, 9 min since (85% of 10)
NEW Finney-Smith 29 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Vincent 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Knecht 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 16 to 23 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/14 · back-to-backOUT James missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Hachimura missed 7 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 19 since 1/30, returns tonight: 7 min (37% of 18)
BACK Reaves back 3/06 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Goodwin back 3/08 after 3, 22 min since (126% of 17)
BACK Morris back 3/13 after 11, 12 min since (77% of 16)
BACK Milton back 3/10 after 2, 5 min since (45% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/04 after 4, 12 min since (118% of 10)
NEW Vincent 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Knecht 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 16 to 22 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Hachimura missed 8 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 4 since 3/08, returns tonight: 29 min (157% of 19)
OUT Jemison III missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 3/06 after 2, 36 min since (103% of 35)
BACK Reddish back 3/14 after 19, 7 min since (37% of 18)
BACK Goodwin back 3/08 after 3, 25 min since (143% of 17)
BACK Morris back 3/13 after 11, 18 min since (115% of 16)
BACK Milton back 3/10 after 2, 13 min since (117% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/10 after 2, 15 min since (142% of 10)
NEW Finney-Smith 29 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Knecht 19 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 16 to 22 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/17 · back-to-backOUT James missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Hachimura missed 9 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 3/16 after 4, 29 min since (157% of 19)
BACK Reddish back 3/14 after 19, 7 min since (37% of 18)
BACK Goodwin back 3/08 after 3, 26 min since (147% of 17)
BACK Morris back 3/13 after 11, 18 min since (115% of 16)
BACK Milton back 3/10 after 2, 13 min since (117% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/10 after 2, 15 min since (142% of 10)
NEW Vincent 21 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Knecht 19 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 16 to 21 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 5 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Hachimura missed 10 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Len missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 3/16 after 4, 28 min since (152% of 19)
BACK Milton back 3/10 after 2, 11 min since (103% of 11)
NEW Vincent 21 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Knecht 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 17 to 29 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/20 · back-to-backOUT James missed 6 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Hachimura missed 11 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 3 since 3/16, returns tonight: 22 min (125% of 18)
OUT Morris missed 3 since 3/16, returns tonight: 28 min (183% of 16)
OUT Len missed 3 since 3/16, returns tonight: 17 min (165% of 10)
OUT Jemison III missed 5 since 3/13, returns tonight: 16 min (158% of 10)
BACK Hayes back 3/16 after 4, 27 min since (145% of 19)
NEW Knecht 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 17 to 29 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 7 since 3/10, returns tonight: 31 min (89% of 35)
OUT Hachimura missed 12 since 2/28, returns tonight: 18 min (56% of 32)
BACK Hayes back 3/16 after 4, 24 min since (130% of 19)
BACK Reddish back 3/14 after 19, 15 min since (81% of 18)
BACK Morris back 3/20 after 3, 28 min since (183% of 16)
BACK Len back 3/20 after 3, 17 min since (165% of 10)
BACK Jemison III back 3/20 after 5, 16 min since (158% of 10)
NEW Knecht 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Goodwin 17 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Milton 11 to 16 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restBACK James back 3/22 after 7, 31 min since (89% of 35)
BACK Hachimura back 3/22 after 12, 18 min since (56% of 32)
BACK Hayes back 3/16 after 4, 25 min since (131% of 19)
BACK Reddish back 3/20 after 3, 22 min since (125% of 18)
BACK Morris back 3/20 after 3, 18 min since (113% of 16)
BACK Len back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (114% of 10)
BACK Jemison III back 3/20 after 5, 16 min since (158% of 10)
NEW Goodwin 17 to 27 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 2 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK James back 3/22 after 7, 35 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Hachimura back 3/22 after 12, 21 min since (65% of 32)
BACK Morris back 3/20 after 3, 18 min since (113% of 16)
BACK Len back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (114% of 10)
BACK Jemison III back 3/20 after 5, 8 min since (82% of 10)
NEW Goodwin 17 to 24 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 5 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 23 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 18 min since (79% of 23)
DEN availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 32 min (104% of 30)
OUT Strawther missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 6 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 17 min since (77% of 23)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 15 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Strawther missed 6 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 7 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 6 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 26 min since (85% of 30)
DEN availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 7 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 8 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 7 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/14 after 2, 32 min since (104% of 30)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 8 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 9 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 8 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/14 after 2, 34 min since (113% of 30)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 35 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 2 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 35 min (95% of 37)
OUT Strawther missed 9 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 10 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 9 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/14 after 2, 33 min since (109% of 30)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 34 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 3 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 10 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 11 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 10 since 3/05, returns tonight: 38 min (334% of 12)
BACK Murray back 3/21 after 2, 35 min since (95% of 37)
BACK Gordon back 3/14 after 2, 33 min since (108% of 30)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 33 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/24 · back-to-backOUT Jokić missed 4 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 11 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 12 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Murray back 3/21 after 2, 37 min since (99% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 3/23 after 10, 38 min since (334% of 12)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 32 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 5 since 3/17, returns tonight: 38 min (102% of 37)
OUT Strawther missed 12 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 13 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Murray back 3/21 after 2, 35 min since (95% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 3/23 after 10, 35 min since (301% of 12)
NEW Watson 23 to 30 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Reaves at 28 a game. Without James (5 straight), Hachimura (10 straight), Reddish (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 34 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Strawther (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-1 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 14 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it the Lakers 117, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
3/13 @ MIL 106-126 — LAL notes
LAL lost 106-126. LAL shot 44% (38 of 87) to MIL's 48%, 15 of 40 from three, and got to the line 18 times to MIL's 33. The glass went 38-48 against them. Dončić led with 45 (14 of 27, 7 of 13 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Reaves added 28, Knecht 10. Q4 was theirs, 24-24, but the other 3 periods went 102-82 against them. Goodwin's -17 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 @ DEN 126-131 — LAL notes
LAL lost 126-131. LAL took 20 more shots (105 to 85), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to DEN's 52%, 15 of 40 from three, and got to the line 16 times to DEN's 38. Reaves led with 37 (13 of 26, 4 of 10 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Knecht added 32, Milton 16. Q1 was theirs, 40-32, but the other 3 periods went 99-86 against them. They led by as many as 11. Vanderbilt's -13 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs PHX 107-96 — LAL notes
LAL won 107-96. LAL shot 43% (35 of 81) to PHX's 39%, 14 of 39 from three, and went to the line 32 times to PHX's 21 — 23 points from the stripe to their 17. LAL turned it over 8 times to PHX's 14. The glass went 40-51 against them. Dončić led with 33 (8 of 20, 4 of 11 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Reaves added 28, Hayes 19. The hinge was Q1, 31-15: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/17 vs SAS 125-109 — LAL notes
LAL won 125-109. LAL shot 49% (44 of 90) to SAS's 47%, 19 of 48 from three, and went to the line 24 times to SAS's 14 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. LAL turned it over 9 times to SAS's 17. Reaves led with 30 (12 of 21, 5 of 13 from three); Dončić added 21, Goodwin 15. The hinge was Q1, 32-22: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/19 vs DEN 120-108 — LAL notes
LAL won 120-108. LAL shot 51% (42 of 83) to DEN's 47%, 16 of 38 from three, and went to the line 28 times to DEN's 21 — 20 points from the stripe to their 13. LAL turned it over 13 times to DEN's 18. Dončić led with 31 (10 of 21, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 22, Finney-Smith 14. The hinge was Q1, 46-29: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 30. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/20 vs MIL — 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 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and Reaves at 29 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without James (6 straight), Hachimura (11 straight), Reddish (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 24 and Lillard at 19 a game. Without Portis (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Lakers 114, Milwaukee 113, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/22 vs CHI — 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 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Reaves at 29 and Dončić at 28 a game. Without James (7 straight), Hachimura (12 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; White at 28 and Huerter at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Ball (10 straight), Smith (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Lakers 116, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.
3/24 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Banchero at 32 and Wagner at 21 a game. Without Anthony (2 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Reaves at 26 a game. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 107 a night to the Lakers' 115. Call it Orlando 112, the Lakers 108, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/26 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mathurin at 19 and Siakam at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Isa. Jackson (65 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Reaves at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Reddish (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 113 a night to the Lakers' 120. Call it Indiana 118, the Lakers 112.
3/12 vs MIN 95-115 — DEN notes
DEN lost 95-115. DEN shot 40% (36 of 89) to MIN's 48%, 7 of 30 from three, and went to the line 22 times to MIN's 16 — 16 points from the stripe to their 12. DEN turned it over 10 times to MIN's 15. Jokić led with 34 (13 of 23, 2 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Westbrook added 19, Murray 12. Q2 was theirs, 22-23, but the other 3 periods went 92-73 against them. Porter Jr.'s -31 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 vs LAL 131-126 — DEN notes
DEN won 131-126. DEN shot 52% (44 of 85) to LAL's 47%, 13 of 31 from three, and went to the line 38 times to LAL's 16 — 30 points from the stripe to their 13. Jokić led with 28 (8 of 16, 0 of 4 from three, 12 of 17 at the line); Murray added 26, Braun 22. The hinge was Q2, 39-27: DEN came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 4. Gordon was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/15 vs WAS 123-126 — DEN notes
DEN lost 123-126. DEN shot 51% (48 of 95) to WAS's 48%, 12 of 34 from three. Jokić led with 40 (16 of 30, 1 of 8 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Murray added 24, Westbrook 22. Q1 was theirs, 44-30, but the other 3 periods went 96-79 against them. They led by as many as 16. Watson's -22 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 @ GSW 114-105 — DEN notes
DEN won 114-105. DEN shot 47% (43 of 92) to GSW's 49%, 14 of 39 from three, and got to the line 18 times to GSW's 27. The glass went 53-38 for them. Gordon led with 38 (14 of 23, 4 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Porter Jr. added 21, Watson 13. The hinge was Q1, 29-22: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/19 @ LAL 108-120 — DEN notes
DEN lost 108-120. DEN shot 47% (41 of 87) to LAL's 51%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 21 times to LAL's 28. DEN turned it over 18 times to LAL's 13, and LAL turned those into 13 steals. Gordon led with 26 (9 of 14, 5 of 9 from three); Pickett added 14, Westbrook 12. Q4 was theirs, 31-15, the deficit cut from 28 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 105-77 against them. Gordon's -22 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Avdija at 25 and Simons at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Grant (5 straight), Ayton (16 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 34 and Gordon at 27 a game. Without Jokić (2 straight), Murray (2 straight), Strawther (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-9 a night and Denver plus-1 and the defense, Portland allowing 108 a night to Denver's 118. Call it Portland 116, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
3/23 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Eason at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 18 a night. Without Whitmore (4 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gordon at 26 and Murray at 20 a game. Without Jokić (3 straight), Strawther (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-18 a night and Denver plus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to Denver's 121. Call it Houston 120, Denver 113.
3/24 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gordon at 25 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Jokić (4 straight), Strawther (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; White at 29 and Vučević at 17 a game. Without Ball (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Denver giving it away 17 times a game to Chicago's 11 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and Chicago minus-2. Call it Denver 119, Chicago 118, Chicago keeping it close.
3/26 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Gordon at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Jokić (5 straight), Strawther (12 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 26 and Kuzma at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Lillard (3 straight), Portis (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and Milwaukee minus-12 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 16 times a game to Milwaukee's 9. Call it Denver 114, Milwaukee 113, Milwaukee keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
CK C. Koloko
DF D. Finney-Smith
DK D. Knecht
DO Doncic
GV G. Vincent
JG J. Goodwin
JH J. Hayes
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
SM S. Milton
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
CA Cancar
HT H. Tyson
JP J. Pickett
MP M. Porter Jr.
PH P. Hall
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
SJ S. Jones
VČ V. Čančar
ZN Z. Nnaji
LAL/DEN 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
Luka Doncic scores 31 after a big 1st quarter, and the Lakers rout the depleted Nuggets 120-108
LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic had 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in just three quarters of work, and the Los Angeles Lakers routed the Denver Nuggets 120-108 on Wednesday night in a matchup of injury-depleted Western Conference contenders .
Nikola Jokic (elbow) and Jamal Murray (ankle) missed their second straight games for Denver, while LeBron James (hamstring) and Rui Hachimura (knee) continued their longer-term absences for Los Angeles.
Austin Reaves had 22 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who have won nine consecutive home games and three straight since finishing their 0-4 road trip last Friday with a loss at Denver.
Aaron Gordon scored 26 points for the Nuggets.
The Lakers scored a season-high 46 points in the first quarter led by Doncic, who scorched Denver for 21 points in his highest-scoring quarter of the season. He missed the Lakers’ 131-126 loss to Denver last Friday, when the Lakers nearly won without him and James.
Los Angeles led by 28 after three quarters, allowing Doncic to get extra rest amid five home games in seven days.
Bronny James played the final 3:58.
Takeaways Nuggets: Even without Jokic and Murray, offense wasn't the problem. Los Angeles made 60% of its shots in the first three quarters.
Lakers: Doncic dominated early, but they're thriving with balance. Six Lakers scored in double figures, and big men Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko played solid defense.
Key moment Doncic was afire from the opening tip, scoring nine points in less than three minutes and 20 points in about eight minutes. He led an 18-2 run midway through the first quarter with three 3-pointers and three assists before cooling off.
Key stat Doncic scored 30 points for the 200th time in his NBA career. He's done it eight times in 16 games with LA.
Up next The Nuggets visit the Trail Blazers on Friday. The Lakers host the Bucks on Thursday.