Nuggets Fall to Lakers as Jokic, Murray Sit Out with Injuries
The Denver Nuggets suffered a 120-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, missing key stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for a second consecutive game.
🚨 Injury Concerns for Denver’s Stars
🔹 Nikola Jokic (left ankle impingement, right elbow contusion) and Jamal Murray (sprained right ankle) were ruled out before tipoff.
🔹 Christian Braun, who sat out Denver’s previous game against the Golden State Warriors with left foot inflammation, returned to action, finishing with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 28 minutes.
🎙️ Coach Malone Defends Player Absences
Denver coach Michael Malone pushed back against criticism that the Nuggets were resting their stars, emphasizing their injury status instead.
🗣️ “I think that’s just a bunch of bulls—,” Malone said. “In the last 10 years, Nikola Jokic has played the second-most games in the NBA. If he’s not playing, it’s because he’s hurt and trying to play through things most wouldn’t.”
🏆 Lakers Take Advantage
Without Jokic and Murray, the Nuggets struggled against a Lakers team hungry for playoff positioning.
💥 Key Performers:
✅ Anthony Davis: 28 PTS, 12 REB, 4 BLK
✅ LeBron James: 24 PTS, 8 AST, 6 REB
✅ Austin Reaves: 18 PTS, 7 AST
Denver’s bench kept the game competitive, but the Lakers pulled away late, capitalizing on the Nuggets’ missing firepower.
📌 What’s Next?
The Nuggets will hope to get Jokic and Murray back soon as they fight for top seeding in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Lakers continue to push for playoff positioning as the regular season winds down.
🔔 Stay tuned for more NBA updates from NGN News!
