THE LOS ANGELES Lakers have struggled to shoot at times this season and a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday was a glaring example of their problems.
In a 117-85 defeat, the Lakers shot five of 35 from three-point range. The 30 missed three-pointers is a season-high.
LeBron James especially struggled, posting a season-low 14 points on five-of-15 shooting.
But the Nuggets played very well. Six different players scored in double-digits including Malik Beasley, who scored a career-high 20 points off the bench.
Paul Millsap also posted a double-double with 20 points on nine-of-14 shooting and 11 rebounds.
The Lakers have now lost back-to-back games while Denver have won four-in-a-row.
Lowry rallies Raptors to sixth straight win
Kyle Lowry tallied 24 points as the NBA-leading Toronto Raptors continued their dominance by storming back from a 17-point deficit to beat the resurgent Memphis Grizzlies 122-114 on Tuesday.
Four-time all-star Lowry, who also had six assists, has now scored in double figures in 16 consecutive games against the Grizzlies.
“It was a good win. We put ourselves in a hole and we had to dig ourselves out, but we did what had to do to win the game,” said Lowry.
Fred VanVleet also scored 18 points for the Raptors who have won nine of the last 11 contests against the Grizzlies including three of the last four in Memphis.
Toronto used a three point shooting barrage halfway through the fourth quarter to wipe out a Grizzlies’ lead and seize command in front of a crowd of 14,100 at the FedEx Forum. The Raptors outscored the Southwest Division leading Memphis 17-2 during that stretch and would never trail again.
VanVleet drained three shots from beyond the arc in the fourth and Lowry finished with five of eight attempted threes. VanVleet made all six shots he took in the game.
Kawhi Leonard delivered 17 points and 10 rebounds and Serge Ibaka added 16 for the Raptors who have compiled a sizeable winning streak since suffering a three-game losing skid.
They will face their biggest test on Thursday when they square off against the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors who could have Stephen Curry back.
Griffin enormous for Pistons
Pistons forward Blake Griffin had 30 points, five assists and four rebounds in Detroit’s 115-108 win over the Knicks. Rookie Allonzo Trier also had 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for New York.
Grizzlies center Marc Gasol had 27 points, four rebounds and four assists, but Memphis coughed up a 17-point second-half lead to the Raptors, who won 122-114.
Suns forward T.J. Warren had 25 points and seven rebounds in a 109-104 loss to the Pacers.
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