Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone had a tough assessment after his team’s 123-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He felt that the Lakers outperformed his team in every way.
Malone mentioned that the Lakers “out-played” and “out-coached” the Nuggets. He noted that the Lakers capitalized on turnovers, scoring 39 points from them, and also managed 33 points on fast breaks. These stats highlighted the Lakers’ superior control of the game.
Another key point Malone emphasized was the physical style of play from the Lakers. He indicated that this had an effect on star center Nikola Jokić. Although Jokić posted solid numbers with a triple-double (12 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists), he only attempted seven shots and had six turnovers. This was one of his lower performances of the season.
Before the game, the Nuggets were riding high on a nine-game winning streak and currently hold the third spot in the Western Conference with a record of 37-20. However, this loss was a missed chance for Denver to assert themselves against a rival.
The victory gave the Lakers a confidence boost, especially with Luka Dončić leading the way by scoring 32 points and collecting 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets have a day off before heading out on a challenging four-game road trip. They’ll face the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Boston Celtics. Each of these games will be tough, so Malone’s comments could serve as motivation for the team to regroup and focus.
