LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – Kyle Kuzma struck a triple with 0.4 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 124-121 on Monday night to claim a three-game losing streak.
LeBron James threw an inbound pass to Anthony Davis, who threw it to Kuzma on the right wing for the game’s winner as the clock ticked by.
The Lakers, beaten along the Denver bench stretch, got 29 points and 12 assists from James, who scored two triples in the fourth quarter. Anthony Davis had 27 points and Kuzma 25.
PJ Dozier had a chance to put the Nuggets up one with 4.4 seconds left, but missed the second of two free throws. Kuzma rebounded and the Lakers called timeout to set the winning game.
“I had an open look. It’s a game that we basically played a couple of times before the reboot,” Kuzma said. “The coach trusted me, called my number and paid off. It just shows that my teammates and coaches, they trust me, the trust they have in me, every time we have played that game I basically hit that shot. Obviously the comedy 9 out of 10 times will go to LeBron, but they called my number. It’s all about trust. “
Dozier had been fouled by Kuzma while driving the lane after a mistake by James.
James had given the Lakers a 121-119 lead by converting a game from 3 points with 45.7 seconds left. Monte Morris made one of two free throws for the Nuggets.
The Lakers had taken the number 1 seed in the Western Conference before their losing streak began. I’m 3-4 in the bubble with a game at the end.
“I think the most important thing for us is to build habits, win the habits of the championship, especially since we locked the first place,” said Kuzma. “There’s a little bit of time where you can kick back and relax. We don’t really have that margin for error. Like most teams, we have new parts and we’re trying to bring in new guys and I think the biggest thing, is try to create camaraderie with the new group “.
Dozier scored 18 points and Michael Porter Jr. had 15 for the Nuggets, who are currently the number 3 seed in the West.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our group,” said Denver manager Michael Malone. “They played very hard against the number 1 seed in the Western Conference. It was the fourth time we played them and every game was a battle to the finish. For us to be starters throughout the fourth quarter and have the boys in bench out there giving them everything they could handle, he was a heartthrob. He’s always tough, but just so proud. I couldn’t ask for more effort, more focus, energy, whatever you want to call it. “
The Lakers took an 87-80 lead at the end of the third quarter after two buckets from Kuzma and two free throws from Davis. But the Nuggets went on an 8-1 run to finish fourth in an 88-88 draw. Mason Plumlee made a jumper and Bol Bol and Morris each made a triple
Davis grabbed Kuzma’s missed rebound for a dunk at the halftime buzzer that gave the Lakers a 64-59 lead in the first half. Davis also missed a Kuzma-like playoff in the last minute of the first quarter.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: He took over the Northwest Division after the Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Phoenix Suns on Monday. … Dozier turned a four-point play early in the second quarter.
Lakers: Dion Waiters had 12 points in 12 minutes off the bench in the first half. … Davis had big plays on both ends during a streak in the first quarter when he stole the ball and then took a pass from James for a layup.
NEXT
Nuggets: Play with the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in their penultimate game of seeding.
Lakers: Play the Sacramento Kings in their final bubble game on Thursday.
