SCUFFLING the past week, the Los Angeles Lakers grinded out a 93-89 victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Playing without their two primary distributors in LeBron James and Dennis Schroder, the Lakers played with renewed energy.
Anthony Davis had his best game since returning a week ago from a right calf strain, finishing with 25 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
Davis came up with a key block at the end of the game on a Facundo Campazzo attempted 3-pointer to seal the win.
With the victory, the Lakers (37-28) moved back into the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks and a game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.
The loss ended Denver’s five-game winning streak and dropped the Nuggets (43-22) into a tie with the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 3 seed in the West.
Alex Caruso, who started in place of Schroder, contributed 11 points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Talen Horton-Tucker and Marc Gasol added 10 points apiece.
Nikola Jokic paced the Nuggets with 32 points and nine rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 19 points. On the night he received his NBA championship ring for playing with the Lakers last season, JaVale McGee scored 10 points.
In other games, it was the Wizards 154, Pacers 141; Warriors 123, Pelicans 108; Knicks 118, Grizzlies 104; Hawks 123, Trail Blazers 114; Sixers 106, Bulls 94; Jazz 110, Spurs 99; and Magic 119, Pistons 112.
Wizards 154, Pacers 141
Russell Westbrook recorded his 32nd triple-double of the season with 14 points, a career-high 21 rebounds and 24 assists to lead the host Washington Wizards to a victory over the Indiana Pacers.
