In a hard-fought battle, the Denver Nuggets managed to escape with a narrow victory over the injury-plagued Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Despite showing signs of fatigue, the defending champions held on to secure the win in a game that was far from their best.
Facing a Lakers squad missing key players, the Nuggets struggled to find their rhythm, with uncharacteristic turnovers and inconsistent shooting plaguing their performance. However, timely plays in the closing minutes proved enough to fend off a resilient Lakers effort.
“It wasn’t pretty. But we’ll take it,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone admitted postgame. “Fatigue played a role, but no excuses—we have to be better.”
Nikola Jokić once again led the way for Denver, posting a near triple-double, while Jamal Murray delivered clutch baskets down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Lakers, missing several starters due to injuries, relied on their bench and emerging talent to keep the game competitive until the final buzzer.
Despite their struggles, the Nuggets’ ability to grind out the win highlighted their championship mettle. With a tough stretch of games ahead, Denver will need to find consistency to maintain their position in the Western Conference standings.
For the Lakers, the loss stings but also offers optimism. Several young players stepped up in the absence of key stars, showing promise for the team’s depth moving forward.
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