On January 16, Beijing time, the 2021-22 NBA regular season is in full swing. In today's Western Conference focus game, the Lakers challenged the Nuggets on the road. Before this game, the Lakers had suffered two consecutive losses.
In the first quarter of the game, Howard, who returned to the starting lineup, became a surprise for the Lakers. He has won many baskets, both hook shots, empty dunks, and steals from the frontcourt rebounds. In the second quarter, Howard cut back on his shots, hitting only one shot. In the first half of the game alone, Howard had 13 points and 3 rebounds on 6-of-7 shooting, whether it was scoring or shooting, he was the Lakers' biggest highlight in the first half.
James' first-half play today was a little uneventful, with 15 points and five rebounds on 6-of-13 shooting. In one of the offensive rounds, James held the ball against the Nuggets' Reid. Reid pressed hard without giving James any space, and he kept clapping his hands to provoke James and reaching out to cut the ball. James then fell in the middle of the breakthrough, and seeing this scene, Reid clapped his hands again in defiance.
Throughout the first half, the Lakers struggled in the first quarter, five points behind the Nuggets. In the second quarter of the game, the Lakers were played by the Nuggets to play an offensive climax, trailing by as many as 18 points at most. At the end of the quarter, the Lakers began to chase points wildly, but the Nuggets always kept the point difference in double digits. At the end of the first half, the Lakers trailed the Nuggets 60:73.
In terms of statistics, the Lakers scored 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, ending the embarrassing record of not scoring double-doubles in three consecutive games, Munch had 4 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, and Ariza scored 9 points. The Nuggets Jokic had 14 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, Button had 12 points, Jaylen scored 11 points and Hyland had 16 points.