Here is a by-the-numbers look at the Lakers’ 106-96 loss to the Denver Nuggets
4
Points scored by Ty Lawson in the first half. However, the six-year pro ignited from there, shooting 10-for-14 over the final two quarters for 28 points. The Lakers could not solve Lawson when it mattered most, as he scored 16 points in the fourth quarter on 5-for-7 shooting. When not adding toward his season-high 32 points, Lawson got his teammates involved, also dishing out 16 assists, which were a season best as well.
“Ty Lawson changed the game,” Carlos Boozer said. “In the second half, he was so much more aggressive. … We tried a couple of things. We tried to blitz him and make other guys score. He found the right guys. We tried to go under on the pick-and-roll, then he started hitting his jump shot. He just took the game over.”
Ty Lawson Shot Chart (Second Half)
“I was just trying to be aggressive,” Lawson said. “I noticed that Boozer was sagging off a bit, so I was able to get my jump shot off and get to the basket on him. Once I hit a couple, I was just trying to get into the lane and find people to score.”
10
Rebounds grabbed by Boozer. The first-year Laker also poured in a team-high 21 points, notching his league-leading seventh double-double off the bench. Boozer was the Lakers’ best option late in the game, as he made each of his four fourth-quarter shots. But even his strong, 15-point second-half performance could not bring the Lakers within single digits at the end of the final frame.
13
Points scored by Wayne Ellington in the first half. Unlike Lawson, Ellington had the hot hand right from the start, shooting 6-for-7 across the first two quarters, then making his first two shots of the second half. However, Ellington slipped into a free fall from there, as he missed his last six shots of the third period and did not even attempt one in the fourth.
54
Points scored by Denver in the paint. Fueled by Lawson’s constant slashing to the basket, the Nuggets bullied the Lakers down low, shooting 27-for-40 in the paint. Despite Jusuf Nurkic (four blocks) being mired by foul trouble, Denver also protected its own paint well, holding L.A. to 40 points on a 20-for-42 clip.
59.3
Percentage shot by the Lakers at the free throw line. L.A. went just 16-for-27 on foul shots, marking their worst performance on that many attempts or more since Dec. 13, 2013 against Oklahoma City (18-for-31). L.A. was especially poor in the first half, shooting just 5-for-11 at the charity stripe, which set the tone for the rest of the night, as all seven Lakers who attempted a free throw — except for Wesley Johnson (4-for-4) — missed at least one.