The Brooklyn Nets stunned the Los Angeles Lakers with a 111-108 victory on Monday night, snapping their seven-game losing streak.
Noah Clowney scored a team-high 19 points, delivering a crucial late-game dunk to secure the win for Brooklyn (22-42). Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists for Los Angeles (40-23), but his 8-for-26 shooting night proved costly.
The Lakers played their first game without LeBron James, who was sidelined with a strained left groin. His absence was felt as Austin Reaves and Doncic struggled from the field, with Reaves finishing 3-for-14.
Brooklyn found offense from multiple contributors, with Cam Johnson and Keon Johnson each adding 18 points. Tyrese Martin chipped in 14 points off the bench.
Gabe Vincent led Los Angeles with 24 points, hitting six three-pointers, while Dalton Knecht had 19 points. Reaves nearly posted a triple-double with 17 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Brooklyn’s late push.
The Lakers trailed by as many as 15 points before rallying in the fourth quarter. Doncic hit a deep three-pointer to cut the deficit to two with 10.6 seconds remaining, but Brooklyn executed a well-designed inbounds play that led to Clowney’s decisive basket.
Injuries to Jaxson Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Rui Hachimura forced Los Angeles to start an unfamiliar lineup.
Brooklyn rebounded from their late-game collapse against Charlotte on Saturday, closing out the Lakers despite a strong contingent of away fans in the crowd.
