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The Los Angeles Lakers already had the best record in the Western Conference, and with a road win over a solid Denver Nuggets team, they solidified themselves as the team […]
The Los Angeles Lakers already had the best record in the Western Conference, and with a road win over a solid Denver Nuggets team, they solidified themselves as the team to beat in the West heading into the All-Star Break.
Denver is a tough place to win, and the Nuggets entered the game with a 21-6 record at the Pepsi Center in Denver. But with a 22-5 road record of their own prior to the matchup, the Lakers had already been proving they can get business done anywhere.
The Nuggets would lead 31-23 after the first quarter before an explosive second quarter from the Lakers offense. Los Angeles would outscore Denver 38-24 in the second period to take a 61-55 lead into the second half. The Nuggets would battle back in the third quarter of an increasingly heated game. (Upcoming Tweet: Pardon the language)
James and the Lakers took control late in the second half, and then outscored the Nuggets 9-5 in the decisive overtime period.
James notched another triple double, with 32 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds. James had the ball a lot in his 42 minutes on the court, taking 29 shots while making 15 of them. He struggled from three-point range and the free throw line, going 1-of-7 and 1-of-4 respectively.
When James didn’t have the ball, Davis probably did. The power forward made 12 of 23 shots, including three of six three-pointers and six of nine free throws to go along with 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. No other Laker took more than ten shots, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s nine shots coming the closest.
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray did everything in his power to keep the Nuggets in the game, tallying 32 points and 10 assists in 44 minutes on the court. Nikola Jokic had a seemingly routine 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The Lakers enter the All-Star Break wit the best record in the Western Conference and the 2nd-best record in the NBA behind the Milwaukee Bucks. The Nuggets remain 2nd in the West, 4.0 games behind the Lakers. The Los Angeles Clippers, who are 2-0 against the Lakers this season, sit at third in the conference with a 37-17 record, 4.5 games behind the Lakers.
The final two months of the regular season will be no snooze for James and the Lakers, as they attempt to fend off these hungry squads for the conference’s best record and most favorable playoff seed.
Header Photo Credit: Via Yahoo Sports
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