The Lakers Manage to Take Down the Nuggets After Second Half Come Back
The Los Angeles Lakers came back to beat the Denver Nuggets 115–107 at Ball Arena, thanks to a huge second half. This marks a significant victory for LA as they climb to the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Despite falling behind by 16 points and losing their starting center early due to injury, Los Angeles demonstrated resilience against a short-handed yet formidable Denver team. Luka Dončić continued his MVP-level season with an impressive triple-double of 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. After Jamal Murray scored 26 points in the first half for Denver, Luka took over completely in the fourth quarter. His performance earned him a spot as an all-star starter and reinforced his position as the team's undisputed alpha. For the first time in 21 years, LeBron James wasn't chosen as an all-star starter, but he played strongly, finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
Hayes-day!
While Luka drives the offense, LeBron has effectively adapted to a high-level role, choosing his moments to contribute and providing veteran stability during the comeback from 16 points down. The game was a battle of physicality inside the paint. Denver was already without Nikola Jokić and Jonas Valančiūnas, but the Lakers faced their own setback when Deandre Ayton had to leave the game in the second quarter due to an eye injury. Thanks to Jaxson Hayes, who scored 16 points, along with strong contributions from James and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers out-rebounded Denver by 20. This inside strength helped the Lakers spark a close contest into a substantial lead.
Jamal Murray’s Tale of Two Halves
The Nuggets were prepared to dominate the Lakers early on, with Jamal Murray scoring 26 points in the first half. In the second half, the Lakers' defensive strategy, mainly using Marcus Smart to disrupt Murray's flow, limited the star to just two points on one for five shooting. When the Lakers concentrate defensively, even prolific scorers like Murray can be held in check. This victory improves the Lakers' season record to 26–16. Although they are waiting for Austin Reaves to return, the chemistry between Luka and the veteran players is at a season high just before the February trade deadline.
