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LOS ANGELES – After winning their first win of the season on the deserted island of Phoenix, the Lakers kicked off their first winning streak of the season, beating the Nuggets 121-114 on Thursday. The match was a jagged adventure, but the Lakers regained control of the game in the last four minutes.
The Lakers may not be currently built to be a high-flying defensive team, but there were encouraging signs in their best effort of the season.
Watching Lonzo Ball stalking Jamal Murray all the way through the game – picking up Murray's pocket just before half-time for an easy bucket as a reward – recalled that the Lakers used a number of competent defenders, even though their concepts of Team go. They do not have to be the sieve of a defense that they have demonstrated the first week of the season.
For James, Thursday's come out was a complete performance including his first triple-double as Laker – 28 points (10 of 17 from the surface), 11 rebounds and 11 assists. James was selective with his attacks early in the season, but, seeing the opportunity to resonate from one ocean to the other in the third quarter, he voluntarily forced the game over and over – especially a slam on the rest, thanks to a pass. before Lance Stephenson (also known as Make 'em Dance Lance) gave the Lakers the advantage with 3:29 to play.
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Lance Stephenson crushes his defender and hits a 3-point jumper.
And from the top of the ground as a facilitator, James was deadly mortal with his surgical death.
James is well aware that the Lakers will not be the most skilled shooting team in the league. But their final possession in the first half was a striking illustration of how James and Ball's elite vision can compensate for perimeter gaps; it was an exercise that the Lakers showed during the win. While Denver's defense gravitated to James as the pendulum slowed down, he passed a cross pass in the opposite corner to Ball, who immediately passed it to Kyle Kuzma for a 3-pointer open on the wing.
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Lonzo Ball makes an extra pass to Kyle Kuzma, who spills a big 3 points to give the Lakers a 58-57 lead at the break.
The shot allowed the Lakers to lead the group towards the intermission – further evidence that better decisions will yield better results. If Kuzma (22 points) continues to roll on the ground in transition and float to open a space on the perimeter as he did on Thursday night, he should be exceptionally well fed this season. His two dunks in the last two minutes, including one offered by James, helped seal the game for the Lakers.
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Kyle Kuzma invents the spoils in defense and sprints on the court for the two-handed match.
Ball and James, both heady and intrinsically altruistic on the field, clearly establish the telepathy of their teammates. In the third quarter, Ball immediately took advantage on a powerful James seal against the smaller Torrey Craig – quick lob, easy 2.
Take a look at some of the Lakers' easiest looks. It is likely that this opportunity was created by Ball, who was then leading a teammate, then made a precise pass. He finished with 12 points – including a crucial three-pointer in the remaining three minutes – eight assists, six rebounds and five interceptions.
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Lonzo Ball takes advantage of the mismatch against Nikola Jokic to hit a 3-clutch rear pointer.
The Lakers again used JaVale McGee's waste management services. For the second consecutive night, McGee has exceeded 20 points and is now averaging 17.2 points per game for the season. McGee also played 31 minutes – his first 30-minute match since February 2013.
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JaVale McGee comes out of two pick-and-rolls to hammer two monstrous dunks on Mason Plumlee.
Nikola Jokic (24 points and 11 rebounds) was a handful for McGee and the Lakers, both underneath and functioning as a point of support from the Nuggets. And the Lakers will have to build collective consciousness to defend a team like Denver who uses his big guys as playmakers. Jokic was better defended than the Lakers, but Mason Plumlee and Trey Lyles of Denver also distinguished him. which is a breakthrough on which it will be necessary to work during the Saturday shooting in San Antonio.
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