The Lakers held on to defeat the Nuggets 105-96 Tuesday night after multiple players suffered with flu-like symptoms. Head Coach Frank Vogel said Anthony Davis missed the team film session Tuesday morning but lead the team in scoring with 25 and grabbed ten rebounds.
Davis had previously sat out the Lakers workout Monday and stayed in bed most of Tuesday prior to the game. He even needed IV fluids at halftime to keep his body going. “Just tried to fight. Do whatever I can to help the team win. I felt like I could give it a go, and I was able to contribute as much I as I can and get the win,” said Davis.
The “Brow” held the Nuggets all-star center Nikola Jokic in check the whole game. Jokic had been struggling the last few games and finished with just 13 points and 5 rebounds Tuesday. “Sometimes I am getting the ball in the post, but right now I am struggling. Coach [**Mike Malone]** is a smart guy. He is not going to give the ball to the guy who is not making the shots. I am cool with it. I am good.”
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Davis was able to alter countless shots and defend Jokic and Nuggets’ point guard Jamal Murray in one on one scenarios throughout the game.
“He comes in and has a Defensive Player of the Year type of performance. He’s guarding their two best players, Jokic, single coverage, everybody’s staying home and Jamal Murray taking him to the basket and he’s making defensive play after defensive play. And he was outstanding. For him to play through illness and have that kind of performance is something special,” said Vogel.
LeBron James finished with 25 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds in 37 minutes of play. His put-back dunk with a little over a minute to go gave Los Angeles a 102-96 lead and he praised Davis for his effort.
“He’s been doing it all year. Playing through injuries, playing through illness like he did tonight. Got stop after stop after stop. Just a monster game for him,” James told ESPN.
The Lakers won’t have time to rest as they take on the Utah Jazz in Utah tonight. Los Angeles continues a challenging stretch with 12 of their next 15 games on the road.
