Murray’s clutch 3-pointer lifts Nuggets past short-handed Lakers 

Jamal Murray hit a clutch 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left, and Russell Westbrook stole the inbounds pass for a dunk as the Denver Nuggets held off the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 131-126 on Friday night.

Murray finished with 26 points, but Denver’s defensive struggles frustrated coach Michael Malone. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 37 points, while rookie Dalton Knecht added 32 in a valiant effort. The Lakers were severely short-handed, missing LeBron James (groin strain), Luka Doncic (calf, ankle), Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes. Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent also sat out, forcing L.A. to rely on a thin rotation. Despite their injuries, the Lakers kept it close, but Murray’s late heroics secured the win for Denver, reinforcing their dominance while exposing concerns ahead of the season’s final stretch.