The Los Angeles Lakers were without starters Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes, as well as bench players Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith, on Friday night against the No. 2 team in the West while on a three-game losing streak.
It was closer than you’d expect.
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Reaching deeper into their bench than they have all season, the Lakers lost 131-126 to the Denver Nuggets in a game that was decided by Jamal Murray, a player that has given L.A. plenty of problems in the past.
Murray finished with 26 points, while Nikola Jokić continued his MVP campaign with 28 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The only remaining healthy Lakers starter was Austin Reaves, who responded like he has in some past games with their stars out. He finished with 37 points on 13-of-26 shooting, plus 13 assists, eight rebounds and four steals.
Dončić was announced as out before the game due to “left calf injury management” and a right ankle sprain, the team said.
The Lakers have now dropped four straight games after winning eight in a row and 14 of 16. Three of those four losses in a row came without James, who remains out with a groin strain.
Dončić put up 45 points during Thursday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, his highest point total since the trade that sent him from Dallas to L.A. In 13 games with the Lakers, Dončić is averaging 26.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game.
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