The Denver Nuggets had their nine-game winning streak snapped in a lopsided 123-100 defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Jamal Murray didn’t hold back when addressing his team’s struggles.
Speaking after the loss, Murray pointed to Denver’s careless mistakes as a key factor. “Bad passes, not seeing our guy, rushing it, trying to thread the needle,” Murray said while shaking his head, via ClutchPoints. “For a team that is playing physical, you have got to make adjustments. Just be strong with the ball, meet the ball, catch the ball with two hands.”
The Nuggets committed 18 turnovers, allowing the Lakers to capitalize with 24 points off those mistakes. Murray, who finished with 19 points and five assists, admitted Denver lacked composure late in the game. “Down the line, we just didn’t do a good job of taking care of the ball,” he said.
Luka Doncic had his breakout moment for Los Angeles, scoring 32 points to lead the Lakers (34-21) past the defending champions. LeBron James added 25 points, while Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura combined for 44 before Hachimura left with an injury in the fourth quarter.
The win marked the Lakers’ first victory in Denver since April 2022 and halted the Nuggets’ dominance at Ball Arena. Doncic, who struggled in his first three games with the Lakers, wasted no time making an impact, scoring 19 points by halftime.
Los Angeles controlled the game from start to finish, never trailing and shooting 50% from the field and 39% from three-point range. Denver, on the other hand, struggled offensively, with Nikola Jokic finishing with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists while committing six turnovers.
Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 24 points, but the team failed to match the Lakers’ efficiency. Both teams made 16 three-pointers, but Los Angeles’ ball movement and execution proved superior.
Denver made a push in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to single digits before the Lakers responded with a decisive 10-0 run. A James dunk and a Doncic three-pointer sealed the momentum shift, silencing the home crowd.
The loss was a rare stumble for the Nuggets (37-20), who had been rolling through February. Despite the setback, Murray remained focused on what Denver needs to correct moving forward. “We know what we have to do. It’s about executing and being strong with the ball,” he said.
The Lakers now return home for a six-game homestand, starting with Doncic’s first matchup against his former team, the Mavericks. Denver, meanwhile, will look to bounce back as they continue their push for the top seed in the Western Conference.
