The Los Angeles Lakers led by as much as 30 points in their 120-108 win over the Denver Nuggets. An early offensive surge led by guard Luka Doncic gave the Lakers an advantage that the Nuggets could not overcome.
Doncic scored 21 points in the first quarter in route to a final score of 31 points. He also led the Lakers on the boards with nine rebounds. Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon scored 26 points and 10 rebounds.
All but one Lakers player scored in the effort, leading to 39 bench points. Six Lakers players scored in the double digits.
The Purple and Gold made 13 steals and received a 30-point benefit from 19 turnovers made by the Nuggets. Two-way guard Jordan Goodwin was a key contributor to the defensive effort with his four steals.
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Lakers head coach JJ Redick noted how he only saw a defensive lapse in the second quarter. The Nuggets outscored the Lakers 30-27 in the second phase.
“We felt like the game tonight was going to come down to our ability to get back and defend in transition and take care of the basketball and keep them off the glass. That wasn’t great in the first half,” Redick said. “We had eight turnovers, they ended up with 21 fast break points, nine offensive rebounds in the first half and then cleaned all that stuff up in the second half, which was awesome.”
This span of time was a highlight for Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
“We were down 28 and cut it to 14 at halftime,” Malone said. “Our starters found a way to cut into that and make it respectable at the half.”
Knocking down uncontested shots was an asset for the Lakers as Doncic normally gets double and sometimes triple teamed.
“The game gets back to the simplicity of it, someone is going to be open,” said Lakers guard Gabe Vincent. “You attack until you can’t attack anymore and you find the open man. We’ve done a good job of doing that.”
Lakers forwards Rui Hachimura and LeBron James remained sidelined. Prior to the matchup, Redick talked about the impact James and Hachimura have on the defensive end.
“Both those guys have been so good for us on that end. [Hachimura] just being a connector,” Redick said. “With [James] he’s an elite defensive rebounder and can go grab a basketball that’s outside of his space as well as anyone in his position.”
The Lakers return to action on March 20 when they battle the Milwaukee Bucks at 7:30 P.M.
