Game ID: 22500974
Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 8:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
LAL 34 27 26 31 9 127DEN 26 24 37 31 7 125
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 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Smith Jr. missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 23 min since (78% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 4 min since (24% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 10 min (97% of 10)
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 23 min since (78% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 12 min since (71% of 17)
BACK Kleber back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (97% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 3 since 3/06, returns tonight: 33 min (98% of 34)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
BACK Kleber back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (97% of 10)
NEW Hayes 18 to 23 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 21 min (116% of 18)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 13 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 33 min since (98% of 34)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 12 min since (72% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 14 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Hayes back 3/14 after 2, 21 min since (116% of 18)
LAL availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 15 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Hayes back 3/14 after 2, 16 min since (90% of 18)
NEW Reaves 35 to 40 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backOUT Vanderbilt missed 3 since 3/14, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 16 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 5 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Hayes back 3/14 after 2, 15 min since (85% of 18)
NEW Reaves 35 to 40 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 4 since 3/14, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 17 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 6 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK James back 3/12 after 3, 36 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Hayes back 3/14 after 2, 16 min since (90% of 18)
NEW Reaves 35 to 41 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 22 min (71% of 31)
OUT Watson missed 11 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 17 since 1/27, returns tonight: 22 min (77% of 28)
OUT Jones missed 3 since 3/01, returns tonight: 10 min (44% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 12 min since (80% of 16)
NEW Brown 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/09 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 12 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 22 min since (71% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 22 min since (77% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 10 min since (44% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 11 min since (73% of 16)
NEW Braun 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 13 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 22 min since (73% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 25 min since (89% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 13 min since (57% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 11 min since (73% of 16)
DEN availability going into 3/12 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 14 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 23 min since (75% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 15 min since (67% of 22)
DEN availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 15 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 25 min since (82% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 19 min since (87% of 22)
DEN availability going into 3/17 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 16 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 7 min (46% of 16)
OUT Roddy missed 2 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 9 min (76% of 12)
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 29 min since (93% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 27 min since (95% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 20 min since (91% of 22)
DEN availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 17 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Roddy missed 3 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 3/17 after 2, 7 min since (46% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 3/17 after 2, 9 min since (76% of 12)
DEN availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 18 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Roddy missed 4 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 3/17 after 2, 7 min since (46% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 3/17 after 2, 9 min since (76% of 12)
DEN availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 19 since 2/07, returns tonight: 20 min (67% of 30)
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 16)
OUT Roddy missed 5 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 12)
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 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Hayes (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 30 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Watson (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 30 free throws a game to the Lakers' 23 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 114 a night to Denver's 122. Call it the Lakers 120, Denver 117, Denver keeping it close.
3/06 vs IND 128-117 — LAL notes
LAL won 128-117. LAL shot 53% (45 of 85) to IND's 47%, 17 of 37 from three. LAL turned it over 12 times to IND's 7, and IND turned those into 10 steals. Dončić led with 44 (14 of 25, 7 of 14 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 19, Kennard 15. The hinge was Q1, 35-27: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Kennard was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/08 vs NYK 110-97 — LAL notes
LAL won 110-97. LAL shot 43% (35 of 81) to NYK's 43%, 15 of 44 from three, and went to the line 30 times to NYK's 21 — 25 points from the stripe to their 19. LAL turned it over 13 times to NYK's 18. Dončić led with 35 (11 of 25, 5 of 16 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 25, Hachimura 13. The hinge was Q3, 34-20: a lead of 5 became 19, and the lead reached 23. Smart was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/10 vs MIN 120-106 — LAL notes
LAL won 120-106. LAL shot 48% (45 of 93) to MIN's 46%, 11 of 38 from three. LAL turned it over 6 times to MIN's 11. Reaves led with 31 (10 of 20, 4 of 10 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Dončić added 31, Ayton 14. The hinge was Q3, 39-23: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/12 vs CHI 142-130 — LAL notes
LAL won 142-130. LAL shot 56% (55 of 99) to CHI's 54%, 17 of 36 from three. LAL turned it over 9 times to CHI's 15. Dončić led with 51 (17 of 31, 9 of 14 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Reaves added 30, Ayton 23. The hinge was Q2, 41-36: from level to 5 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Reaves was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/14 vs DEN 127-125 — LAL notes
LAL won 127-125 in 1 overtime. LAL shot 52% (48 of 93) to DEN's 46%, 14 of 42 from three. Reaves led with 32 (12 of 21, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Dončić added 30, Smart 21. The hinge was Q1, 34-26: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Smart was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/16 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Thompson at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 28 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it the Lakers 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/18 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 27 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and the Lakers minus-2 and the arc, the Lakers at 34 percent from three to Houston's 27. Call it the Lakers 114, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
3/19 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 35 free throws a game; Adebayo at 37 and Herro at 18 a game. Without Wiggins (6 straight), Jović (12 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 35 free throws a game to the Lakers' 24 and the arc, the Lakers at 36 percent from three to Miami's 30. Call it Miami 120, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/21 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and Bane at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Fra. Wagner (16 straight), Black (7 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 118, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 28 free throws a game; Dončić at 43 and Reaves at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Orlando 119, the Lakers 118, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/06 vs NYK 103-142 — DEN notes
DEN lost 103-142. DEN shot 45% (37 of 83) to NYK's 58%, 8 of 40 from three, and went to the line 30 times to NYK's 21 — 21 points from the stripe to their 16. DEN turned it over 15 times to NYK's 10, and NYK turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 31-50 against them. Jokić led with 38 (14 of 21, 1 of 7 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Murray added 12, Holmes II 11. Q1 was theirs, 29-27, but the other 3 periods went 115-74 against them. Hardaway Jr.'s -24 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/09 @ OKC 126-129 — DEN notes
DEN lost 126-129. DEN shot 46% (45 of 98) to OKC's 51%, 15 of 37 from three, and went to the line 29 times to OKC's 21 — 21 points from the stripe to their 16. The glass went 56-37 for them. Jokić led with 32 (12 of 19, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 28, Gordon 23. Q1 was theirs, 40-37, but the other 3 periods went 92-86 against them. They led by as many as 13.
3/11 vs HOU 129-93 — DEN notes
DEN won 129-93. DEN shot 55% (48 of 87) to HOU's 43%, 17 of 32 from three, and went to the line 22 times to HOU's 14 — 16 points from the stripe to their 5. DEN turned it over 9 times to HOU's 15. Murray led with 30 (11 of 21, 3 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Braun added 19, Johnson 17. The hinge was Q3, 40-22: a lead of 6 became 24, and the lead reached 39. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/12 @ SAS 136-131 — DEN notes
DEN won 136-131. DEN shot 50% (44 of 88) to SAS's 45%, 12 of 36 from three, and went to the line 38 times to SAS's 32 — 36 points from the stripe to their 26. Murray led with 39 (11 of 21, 2 of 6 from three, 15 of 15 at the line); Jokić added 31, Jones 19. The hinge was Q4, 42-25: DEN came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 5. DEN trailed 53-69 at the half and won the second half 83-62. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/14 @ LAL 125-127 — DEN notes
DEN lost 125-127 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 46% (44 of 95) to LAL's 52%, 19 of 49 from three. Gordon led with 27 (9 of 16, 5 of 10 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Jokić added 24, Hardaway Jr. 20. Q3 was theirs, 37-26, the deficit cut from 11 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 101-88 against them.
3/17 vs PHI — 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 124 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Watson (16 straight), Pickett (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 26 from three, 27 free throws a game; Grimes at 23 and Edgecombe at 16 a game. Without Maxey (5 straight), George (21 straight), Embiid (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 37 percent from three to Philadelphia's 26 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to Denver's 124. Call it Denver 120, Philadelphia 116, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/18 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 129, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Small at 18 and Jackson at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Jackson (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jokić at 22 and Murray at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Watson (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-11 and the defense, Denver allowing 115 a night to Memphis's 129. Call it Denver 122, Memphis 117.
3/20 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 27 free throws a game; Jokić at 22 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Watson (18 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Barrett at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Murray-Boyles (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to Toronto's 35. Call it Denver 119, Toronto 114.
3/22 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jokić at 23 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Watson (19 straight), Pickett (2 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Avdija at 23 and Clingan at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Sharpe (19 straight), Love (15 straight), Krejčí (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 108 a night to Denver's 119 and the arc, Denver at 40 percent from three to Portland's 34. Call it Denver 119, Portland 115, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
BB B. Brown
CB C. Braun
CJ C. Johnson
JM J. Murray
JV J. Valančiūnas
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
SJ S. Jones
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
LALAR A. Reaves
DA D. Ayton
DO Doncic
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
LK L. Kennard
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
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
Luka Doncic hits game-winner with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime as Lakers beat Nuggets 127-125
LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic made a fall-away jumper with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 127-125 on Saturday night.
Austin Reaves forced overtime when he rebounded his intentionally missed free throw and made a floater with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation.
Doncic created enough distance from Spencer Jones to make the 17-foot shot, finishing with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds as he continued his spectacular play during Los Angeles’ five-game winning streak. Doncic then blocked Tim Hardaway Jr .’s desperation heave following a Denver timeout.
Reaves finished with 32 points, making the first free throw and then perfectly executing his missed second attempt off the front of the rim after the Nuggets fouled him to prevent a tying 3-point attempt leading 118-115 with 5.2 seconds left.
Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists for his 27th triple-double of the season. Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 27 points and Hardaway finished with 20.
Jamal Murray fouled out 31 seconds into overtime, finishing with five points, six rebounds and six assists on a miserable 1-for-14 night.
Houston, the Lakers, Denver and Minnesota all came into Saturday with 41 wins as they jockey to be as high as the third seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets already held tiebreakers over the Rockets and Timberwolves by virtue of having won the season series against both teams, but the Lakers denied them a clean sweep in the crowded middle.
Deandre Ayton had four of his nine points in overtime and Marcus Smart hit a 3-pointer to put Los Angeles up with 30 seconds left, only for Jokic to score a driving layup up off the glass over Ayton to tie it with 15.1 to go.