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LA stood up to the Nuggets for a long time (129-118) before cracking in the money-time. Because in the end, the absence of LeBron James, required to rest his painful left ankle for the 4th time in six matches, inevitably weighed. He had scored 38 points in the defeat against New Orleans on Friday… For his second game in a row, after a month and a half without playing, Anthony Davis was nevertheless successful (28 pts, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 against). And Russell Westbrook, often criticized for his bad choices this season, played fair and well (27 pts, 11/15 on shots, 10 rebounds). But they came across Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP, certainly sinning with too many stray bullets (7) was their executioner (38 pts, 18 rebounds, 6 assists). Will Barton, very skilful behind the arc (6/8) also contributed (25 pts).
If the Nuggets consolidate their 5th place in the West, the Lakers remain stuck in 11th, still ahead of San Antonio (10th), who beat Portland (113-92). Spurs are two wins up, with four games remaining for each side by the end of the regular season. The calculations have already been launched, but Californian coach Frank Vogel assures us not to “be preoccupied with math“. “I worry about the next game. I draw lessons from this defeat for the next meeting, hoping to obtain a victory against PhoenixBut a setback on Tuesday against the Suns, leaders of the championship who conceded a surprise defeat in Oklahoma City (117-96), could well then mathematically act the elimination of the 2020 champion from the race for the play-offs and sound the end of a nightmare season.
