The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 115–107 road victory over the Denver Nuggets, delivering another statement performance built on defensive adjustments. Despite conceding 37 points in the first half and trailing by as many as 16, the Lakers flipped the script after halftime, holding Denver to just 36 points over the final two quarters. That effort mirrored their previous outing against Toronto, when they allowed only 39 second-half points.
Head coach JJ Redick revealed postgame that the Lakers relied heavily on aggressive double-teaming to compensate for Luka Dončić’s defensive limitations, specifically targeting Jamal Murray. The strategy proved decisive: under constant pressure and sharp rotations, Murray was completely neutralized in the second half, scoring just two points as Denver’s offense stalled.
The Los Angeles Clippers, meanwhile, endured a nightmare road loss, falling by 28 points to the Chicago Bulls. Kawhi Leonard remained sidelined, while John Collins returned to the starting lineup. The game was effectively decided in the second quarter, when Chicago exploded for 45 points. The Bulls were lights-out from deep, hitting 25 of 47 three-point attempts (53 percent), tying a franchise record for made threes in a single game. Even solid defensive execution could not offset such shooting efficiency, and Leonard’s absence only compounded the Clippers’ struggles.
Looking ahead to the all-LA showdown, Leonard is expected to miss the rivalry clash once again. The Lakers, however, have injury concerns of their own: Deandre Ayton exited the Denver game after suffering an eye injury, while Austin Reaves remains sidelined. Still, with Los Angeles’ recent defensive tweaks paying dividends and the Clippers increasingly reliant on James Harden as their lone offensive engine—likely facing heavy double teams—the edge appears to tilt toward the Lakers.
Against the spread pick: Clippers to lose
