Nets Squander 3rd Quarter Lead, But Prevail Over LeBron-Less Lakers 121-104

Nets Triumph Over Undermanned Lakers 121-104 at Barclays Center

Although the game was closer than expected and took a bit longer, the Nets defeated the LeBron-less Lakers 121-104 at Barclays Center. The expected star-studded showdown between Anthony Davis and LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving did not occur, as James and Davis were out and Durant was recovering from an MCL sprain. Instead, the game turned into a competition between both teams' reserve players.

The Brooklyn Nets held off the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers, 121-104, in a win that took a little longer than expected. Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 26 points, while off the bench, Cam Thomas and Patty Mills both scored 21. Thomas shot 61% from the field and 4-of-6 from three, while Mills shot 4-of-7 from three and 7-of-12 overall. Day'Ron Sharpe recorded 14 rebounds and three assists in the game. In the third quarter, the Lakers went on a 14-0 run, but the Nets regained the lead with a 10-0 run, capped by Thomas' driving layup to give Brooklyn a 106-93 lead. The win was the Nets' second straight and fourth in six games, but they also showed a pattern of slowing down in the third quarter.