A shouting from the coach Frank Vogel, five minutes of madness and a LeBron James boss. We could summarize with these three ingredients the recipe for success of the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night, on their floor, against the Denver Nuggets (114-93).
– –
For what was the first reunion between the two franchises since their duel in the Western Conference final last fall in the Orlando bubble, the reigning champions struggled to find the solution, confirming their immense difficulties to home since the start of the exercise (5 wins, 4 losses).
– –
At halftime, Frank Vogel’s men were even twelve points behind (46-58, 24th), which earned them a salty speech before returning to the floor. ” He jumped by our throats “, Then confirmed the interior Anthony Davis, whose performance on the evening was disappointing (13 points to 5 of 8, 9 rebounds).
– –
A reframing which had the effect of launching a third quarter in one direction, and which totally reversed the balance of power: a 37-17 which stunned the visitors while the rookie angelin Talen Horton-Tucker (17 points) s’ illustrated.
– –
Unable to react, the Nuggets conceded a scathing 19-0 in five minutes, between the end of the third period and the start of the fourth.
– –
LeBron James in triple-double and always higher
Confused and not helped by the relatively discreet match of Nikola Jokic (13 points to 6 of 16; 10 rebounds, 6 assists), the Nuggets surrendered during the money-time, floored by a second half at only 33 points marked (68 cashed).
– –
While coach Michael Malone had recalled his executives on the bench, LeBron James remained on the floor for a final possession, punctuated by a sublime assist, synonymous with the second triple-double of the season (the 96th of his career) for the “King”: 27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists.
– –
« LeBron continues to prove he is the best player in the League »Appreciated Vogel, who did not fail to recall that his leader exceeded during the evening the legend Wilt Chamberlain in the number of baskets registered during his career (12,691 for James against 12,681 for Chamberlain). Here is the quadruple NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020) behind Karl Malone (2nd, 13,528 baskets) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) now.
– –
« Whenever my name is associated with a category and among the biggest names to have played, it makes me humble, delivered the winger after the game. I think back to my youth, when I read magazines or books, that I immersed myself in the history of this sport because I loved it so much, in order to know who paved the way for young people like me. To be associated with the great Wilt Chamberlain is an incredible achievement for me. »
– –
In the wake of their superstar, the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of this success to come up to the Los Angeles Clippers in second place in the Western Conference (17v-6d), with only one loss more than the Utah Jazz, leader. (17v-5d). The gap seems widened with the fourth place, occupied by the Nuggets (12v-9d).
– – .
