Lakers rouse up from stupor behind Kuzma
Orlando, FL - AUGUST 10: The Lakers react after Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers game winning shot against the Denver Nuggets on August 10, 2020 at The AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida. (Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP)
The Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the Denver Nuggets Monday in Orlando.
Kyle Kuzma nailed a three-pointer to lift the Lakers past the Nuggets, 124-121.
With the score tied 121-121 with four seconds to go, the Lakers called a time out to design a game winning play.
LeBron James inbounded the ball to Anthony Davis and Kuzma
freed himself from his defender and received a pass from Davis.
Kuzma launched a triple over the outstreched arms of Bol Bol that hit nothing but net with 0.4 seconds to go.
The Nuggets called time but Bol Bol missed a layup as time expired.
LeBron scored 29 points while Anthony Davis chipped in 27 and Kuzma had 25.
"I think Jesus could be in front of me and I'd probably still shoot. It dont't really matter to me," said Kuzma when asked about the game winning shot.
PJ Dozier led eight Nuggets players who scored double digits with 18 points.
The Lakers face the Sacramento Kings Thursday in their final game before the playoffs which start Saturday, Aug. 15.
The Lakers, the No. 1 seed in the West, will face the winner of the play-in series that starts Saturday.
Memphis holds the eighth seed with the Portland Trailblazers and the San Antonio Spurs breathing down their necks.
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Thunder no match for Suns’ heat
Orlando, FL - AUGUST 10: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on August 10, 2020 at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. /NBAE via Getty Images/AFP
The Phoenix Suns remained the winningest team at the restart as it routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-101 for its sixth straight win.
Devin Booker torched the Thunder with 35 points in another dominating performance for the 23-year-old who had been asked to leave the Suns for a better career by Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
Among Booker's 35 markers is a Steph Curry like half-court shot that hit nothing but the net with 5:30 left in the third quarter.
Phoenix has so far defeated the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, and Thunder. Up next for the Suns are the Philadephia 76ers and the Mavericks again.
In other games, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 114-106.
The Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo who had dental surgery.
Toronto sat out key players Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry, and Fred VanVleet.
The Bucks and Raptors have earlier secured the No. 1 and 2 seed in the East.
The Miami Heat closed in on the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 114-92 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The third seed belongs to the Boston Celtics.
Jimmy Butler was back from an injury and scored 19 points to lead the Heat.
T.J. Warren, who had averaging 34 points per game, was held to just 12 points. Victor Oladipo and Malcolm Brogdon added 14 and 12, respectively.
The Mavericks demolished the Utah Jazz, 122-114, in a game where Dallas were without stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis due to injuries.
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Virtual NBA Draft on Aug. 20
NBA commissioner Adam Silver in file photo.
The 2020 NBA Draft will be held virtually on Aug. 20 and this will soon be official.
The 14 teams in the draft are going to appear on virtual display.
The Golden State Warriors are among the lottery teams in the draft.
James Wiseman of the Memphis Tigers in the US NCAA; LaMelo Ball, brother of Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans; and Anthony Edwards of the Georgia Bulldogs also in the US NCAA are among the prominent names in the draft.
A virtual draft in US sports leagues is nothing new. The National Football League held virtual draft last April, with Joe Burrow of LSU picked No. 1 by the Cincinatti Bengals.
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Harrel back with Clippers, under 4-day quarantine
LA Clippers' Montrezl Harrel
LA Clippers' Montrezl Harrel is back at the bubble after three weeks away from the team to be with his family.
He is now in his hotel room and is under quarantine for four days before he can rejoin the Clippers.
Clippers' coach Doc Rivers hopes his big man can be with the team before their final seeding game.
Meanwhile, Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross has left Orlando to undergo non-COVID-19 testing, the team announced on Twitter.
His return and what caused the non-virus testing have not been disclosed. Ross has to undergo four-day quarantine when he is back. (Compiled by Tristan Lozano)