Upping their game
Jokic, Denver knock off Lebron-less Los Angeles to take hold of the No. 5 seed
LOS ANGELES » Will Barton savored his dagger 3-pointers and the silence that befell the Lakers’ faithful.
Behind Nikola Jokic’s superlative effort, the longtime Nuggets’ veteran helped spearhead Denver’s 129-118 win here Sunday to push the Lakers’ season even closer to the edge. The purple-andgold crowd started filing out well before the final buzzer sounded.
With Lebron James injured and unable to contribute, the Lakers lost their sixth consecutive game while the Nuggets, momentarily, took hold of the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.
“This was an important road win,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of the team’s franchise-record 25th victory away from Ball Arena. “… When it mattered most, we were able to get stops.”
Now 47-32, the Nuggets have just three games left, beginning Tuesday vs. San Antonio, to hold onto their seed.
Barton scored 25 points, including sixof-eight from 3-point range. Malone, lauding Barton’s toughness, said he didn’t think he was going to be available due to a right knee issue.
“I was real close (to not playing),” Barton said. “But we still got some ground to make up.”
Barton emphasized the Nuggets’ urgency, saying their sole focus was to stay out of the play-in tournament.
“Do anything to win the game,” he said. Jokic pummeled the Lakers’ interior for 38 points and 18 rebounds. Most importantly, in a game the Nuggets had to have, Jokic was as passionate as he’d been all season. After one deep jumper in the third quarter, Jokic jogged back on defense yelling toward his bench in excitement.
“It’s a huge win, especially (because) we lost to Minnesota,” Jokic said.
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook created a two-headed monster that accounted for 55 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists. But the Nuggets had reinforcements.
Aaron Gordon registered 24 points, and Denver’s reserves were invaluable as Jokic and spot-starter Jamychal Green got into foul trouble. While Jeff Green remained in Denver due to personal reasons, center Demarcus Cousins added 14 points off the bench. Davon Reed and Bones Hyland each reached double-figures as well.
Malone was so fed up with his team’s defense early in the third quarter that he had to point to an open Avery Bradley on the wing. Fortunately, the Lakers missed their defensive mark, too.
Jokic did immense damage in the paint, racking up 14 points in the third quarter alone. Dwight Howard, the Lakers’ imposing center, could not stop him.
At the same time, Barton connected on three 3-pointers to spark the Nuggets’ 33-point quarter. By the end of the period, neither team had any separation, with the Nuggets maintaining a one-point lead going into the fourth.
If nothing else, Sunday’s pregame scene should’ve instilled some level of hope in Nuggets fans.
Jamal Murray went through an extended shooting routine, while injured forward Michael Porter Jr. got shots up on the other side of the court. In addition, both Zeke Nnaji (knee) and Vlatko Cancar (foot) went through shooting drills of their own. With the postseason just weeks away, the injured Nuggets appeared to be trending in the right direction. Perhaps the most optimism revolves around Murray, whose shooting has the potential to change the dimensions of Denver’s offensive attack.
Even though James’ absence aided Denver’s cause, it didn’t matter much to Malone.
“With four games to go, I don’t care who we’re playing, I don’t care who’s available, it’s about us,” Malone said before the game.
“I told our players yesterday when we landed, we had a team meeting, the last five games we’re 25th in defensive efficiency. We’re fourth in offense, which is great, but we’re 25th (in defense).”