The Denver Nuggets’ nine-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday night as LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers handed them a blowout 123-100 defeat. The Lakers were led by James and Luka Dončić, who combined for 57 points together, while Nuggets linchpin Nikola Jokić was tied to a season-low two field goals.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone didn’t shy away from accepting the defeat, admitting that he was “outcoached” on the night.
Michael Malone Says He Was Outcoached in Nuggets Blowout Loss to Lakers
Including the playoffs, Los Angeles had been on an eight-game losing streak in Denver, but the new-look Lakers proved to be too tough a challenge for the Nuggets. This was Denver’s first game against the Lakers since LA’s blockbuster mid-season trade of Dončić, who proved to be the ultimate difference between the two teams.
It was Dončić’s fourth game in a Lakers jersey, and he made it his best of the four, scoring 32 points on 10 of 22 shooting, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. James joined him with 25 points on 11 of 19 shooting as the star duo ended Denver’s hopes of the first 10-game winning streak under Malone.
Malone was graceful in defeat and said the Lakers deserved the credit for playing brilliantly.
“It speaks to their aggression, their physicality, and our inability to handle it. That ultimately falls on me to get a team ready to play. We were outplayed tonight. We were outcoached tonight,” Malone said.
Coach Malone postgame: “I felt they were just a lot more physical and lot more aggressive than we were.”
“We were outplayed tonight, we were out coached tonight.”
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) February 23, 2025
He also lauded the Lakers’ approach for Jokić, who finished with 13 rebounds and 12 points for Denver and tied his season-low seven shot attempts.
“For Nikola to only get seven shots, that should never be the case. Give them credit. They cross-matched, they doubled him every time. They fronted him on the elbows. They wouldn’t let him catch the ball. What’s the best way to stop a player? Don’t let him touch it. They did a hell of a job of that tonight.”
It’s worth noting that Lakers head coach JJ Redick had already laid out his plan for Jokić: Don’t let him touch the ball.
“You try to limit his touches,” Redick said before the game. “That’s what it comes down to. He’s so big. He’s so smart. He can really play angles well off-ball to get the ball. Obviously, it’s hard.”
Malone further suggested that their offense, who had 20 turnovers to the Lakers’ eight, was partly to be blamed for the loss.
“When we’re not scoring, we’re not making shots, what are we going to do?” asked Malone. “That’s when you have to rely upon your defense. Just a rough night all around for us.”
Denver’s 100 points resulted from Aaron Gordon’s improved performance. Gordon led the scoring with 24 points, while Russell Westbrook scored 17 off the bench. The Nuggets will now take on the Indiana Pacers next and are sitting third in the Western Conference standings with a 37-20 record.
