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Los Angeles Lakers losing streak continues against Denver Nuggets

By Kenneth Teape

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 2: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets on December 2, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 2: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets on December 2, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets Saturday night at the Pepsi Center.

The Los Angeles Lakers losing streak continued tonight against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets exacted some revenge on the Lakers from their meeting earlier in the season, defeating Los Angeles 115-100 tonight.

The Lakers crumbled in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. The Lakers took a four-point lead with 5:41 remaining in the game. It looked like it would be a tight one going down to the wire, but the Lakers fell apart after that.

Denver would finish the game on a 21-2 run to put the Lakers away. The only points for the Lakers the final 5:41 came on a Brandon Ingram layup. Outside of that, all of the scorings was done by the Nuggets.

Will Barton and Jamal Murray were the driving forces in the closeout. Barton scored 10 of his 16 points during that final stretch of the game. Murray scored seven of his game-high 28 during that same stretch.

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Los Angeles had a tough time slowing down Murray from the perimeter. He knocked down 5-of-8 of his 3-point attempts and 7-of-8 from the foul line. Surprisingly, Murray struggled inside the arc, as he made only 2-of-12 on his 2-point attempts.

In addition to Barton and Murray, the Nuggets had four other players score in double-figures as the Nuggets offense clicked all night. Denver shot 46 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from the 3-point line.

The Lakers had five players of their own score in double-figures as well, led by 20 from Ingram. The Lakers also dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 52 boards compared to 39 for the Nuggets. Kyle Kuzma led the team with 10 rebounds, while Lonzo Ball pulled down nine.

The fourth quarter struggles are what ultimately did the Lakers in. The Nuggets outscored the Lakers 37-20 in the final stanza. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope came up short tonight, as he made 1-of-7 from the field.

What made this loss even more difficult to stomach is that the Lakers caught a huge break in the frontcourt. Both Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap, arguably the Nuggets’ best players, were sidelined by injuries.

Los Angeles was, unfortunately, unable to take advantage and lost the game.

Highlights

Next: Los Angeles Lakers Report Card: First Quarter Grades

The Lakers are in a difficult stretch of their schedule. Things will not get any easier, as they have a quick turnaround. The Lakers will face the Houston Rockets Sunday night back at the STAPLES Center in their next game of the daunting gauntlet of games.

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