LAS VEGAS — The Lakers and the Denver Nuggets tussled back and forth in their NBA Summer League finale on Friday night – for three quarters.
In a game that featured nine ties and 14 lead changes through the first 30 minutes, the Nuggets took control in the final 10, outscoring the Lakers 30-15 in the fourth quarter to secure a 106-84 win at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.
Neither team led by more than six points until the final 12 minutes, but Denver did outscore the Lakers in all four quarters. The Nuggets shot 52% from the field while holding the Lakers to 41% and outscoring them 62-26 in the paint. The Nuggets also outscored the Lakers in fast-break points (21-6) and points off turnovers (19-7).
Cole Swider had 17 points and six rebounds and R.J. Davis had 17 points and three assists off the bench to lead the Lakers (1-4 in Las Vegas, 3-5 overall this summer), who played without second-year guards Bronny James and Dalton Knecht.
Ethan Taylor added 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Sir’Jabari Rice had 14 points and three rebounds.
Curtis Jones paced the Nuggets (2-3) with 22 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Reyne Smith had 17 points off the bench, while Donovan Williams had 16 points and six rebounds and Terrence Hargrove Jr. contributed 12 points and six rebounds.
After going 2-1 at the four-team California Classic in San Francisco, the Lakers had a loss to Cooper Flagg and Dallas, a win against New Orleans and losses to the Clippers, Boston and Denver in Las Vegas.
