The Los Angeles Lakers battled back to beat the Denver Nuggets, but they may have gotten some extra free throws that they shouldn't have.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 127-125 in an overtime thriller that was capped off by Lakers’ star Luka Doncic nailing a game-winning jumper. It was not a win for Los Angeles that came without controversy, however. The NBA admitted, according to ESPN, that it missed a call late in the contest. With nine seconds left in regulation, the Nuggets were up 116-113 when Austin Reaves was fouled by Spencer Jones. Reaves got the Lakers within one point. The report after the game detailed the incident differently, noting that it was a “clean dislodge” by Jones to get the ball from Reaves. Now, that said, the ball went out of bounds and the report did not clarify whether Los Angeles would have retained possession or whether it would’ve been ruled a turnover in Denver’s favor.
Reaves would later intentionally miss his free throw with 1.9 left in regulation to grab his own rebound and force overtime with a floater. It was a game that felt a lot higher stakes than a typical regular season game – and maybe that was the point. Lakers head coach JJ Redick wanted his squad to play the Nuggets like they were in a playoff game, and that’s how the contest really unfolded. Los Angeles was able to stave off Denver’s comeback that they typically always falter against, this time showing grit and poise to extend the contest and eventually win it.
Here is the full story from Lakers Roundtable writer Grant Mona on the electric night and how Redick’s coaching points paid off.
The contest even saw LeBron James dive for a loose ball late and fully extend in a way that Redick had never seen James move or make a play like before in 23 years of watching the star play. The win improved Los Angeles to 42-25 and third in the Western Conference – and critically, gave the tiebreaker to the Lakers who bested the Nuggets in their series 2-1.