By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Kyle Kuzma was the enchanted hero of Monday night, as he saved the LA Lakers against Denver Nuggets with a three-pointer made with just 0.4 seconds remaining in the game, helping the Lakers grab a 124-121 win and recover from a three-game losing streak. Adding up to his decisive basket, Kuzma finished the game with 25 points total, along with six rebounds.
“I think Jesus could be in front of me and I’d probably still shoot,” Kuzma told reporters after the game, in what it turned out to be the statement of the night.
The Lakers (52-18) had clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference earlier on in the bubble, and they are currently at a 3-4 run.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic exited the game with 12 points, four assists, while PJ Dozier was the team’s top scorer with 18 points, coming from the bench. Despite the tough defeat, the Nuggets (46-25) have a home seed secured and two games left in the bubble before the playoffs begin next week.
Miami Heat defeated Indiana Pacers 114-92 upon Jimmy Butler’s return to action after suffering a foot injury. Butler scored 19 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals across 29 minutes. Goran Dragic also added 11 points, 9 assists in 30 minutes, as Heat (44-27) moved a game ahead of Pacers (43-28) in the race for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have two games left in the regular season.
Chris Boucher scored a career-high 25 points along with 11 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 114-106 on Monday in the bubble. The top two teams in the Eastern Conference standings faced each other while missing key players, though the outcome of the game doesn’t change much for either team. Bucks (55-16) clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference while reigning champions Raptors (51-19) seized the No. 2 spot.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was ruled out after undergoing oral surgery, and his return for the last two seeding games vs. Wizards and Grizzlies this week is uncertain, per coach Mike Budehnolzer. Raptors, on the other hand, lacked Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet.
As action in the bubble continues, Suns remain undefeated with a 6-0 run, paced by a 35-point performance by Devin Booker on Monday. At the same time, the Mavericks stormed back from a 22-point deficit to defeat Utah Jazz, while missing Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis.