Luka Doncic came out on top in his battle with Giannis Antetokounmpo as the two MVP contenders came to blows, while a returning Lakers star was not enough to turn this around.
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Mon, 04 Apr
Monday April 4th
LAKERS LOSE AGAIN AFTER MAJOR FOURTH QUARTER COLLAPSE
Even having Anthony Davis back was not enough to propel the Los Angeles Lakers past the Denver Nuggets, as the 2020 champs went down 129-118.
Davis, who was absent since suffering a mid-foot sprain on February 16 before returning on Saturday (AEDT) against the Pelicans, did his utmost to help with 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
But there was little he could do to stop a rampant Nikola Jokic, who ended with 38 points, 18 rebounds and six assists.
The defeat means the Lakers have now lost six games on the bounce as their hopes for a spot in the play-in tournament continue to dwindle rapidly.
Los Angeles were ahead 28-24 after the first quarter, but the travelling Nuggets were able to claw back the deficit and went into half time with a narrow 62-61 lead.
Both teams put up 33 points in the third quarter to set up an enthralling final period, but Denver hit the gas pedal and blew the Lakers out of the water to further compound their woes.
Frank Vogel’s side are now on a 5-19 stretch since February 8, highlighting just how poor the side have been.
DONCIC DAZZLES FOR DALLAS IN MVP SHOWDOWN
Dallas star Doncic finished with 32 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds as the Mavs underscored their postseason credentials with a 118-112 road win over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Doncic was the spearhead of a balanced offensive performance by Dallas, who finished with six players in double figures.
Doncic was given scoring support from Dwight Powell with 22 points and Reggie Bullock with 16 points.
Point guard Jalen Brunson added 15 points while Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in with 11 points apiece for Dallas, who improved to 49-30 to remain fourth in the Western Conference standings.
The Bucks fell to 48-30 after a defeat which followed their 153-119 mauling by the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
The Bucks had led by 10 points early in the second quarter but were gradually reeled in by Miami, who finally pulled clear in the fourth quarter after an 11-point burst of scoring from Doncic.
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks scorers with 28 points, with Jrue Holiday adding 20.
CELTICS SMACK WIZARDS IN 42-POINT MAULING
In other early NBA action on Sunday, the Boston Celtics bullied the Washington Wizards en route to a 144-102 thrashing at the TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown drained 3-of-4 three-point attempts to lead the Celtics scoring with 32 points while Jayson Tatum added 22 points for Boston, who remain in second place in the Eastern Conference.
ALL SCORES
CELTICS 144 WIZARDS 102
BUCKS 112 MAVERICKS 118
LAKERS 118 NUGGETS 129
PACERS v PISTONS
CAVALIERS v SIXERS
MAGIC v KNICKS
RAPTORS v HEAT
THUNDER v SUNS
SPURS v TRAIL BLAZERS
ROCKETS v TIMBERWOLVES
KINGS v WARRIORS
CLIPPERS v PELICANS
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