Lakers close preseason with loss to Nuggets

October 17, 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up their preseason schedule with a tough 121–106 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, struggling offensively and defensively from the opening tip. Behind early misfires and 14 turnovers—six of them in the first quarter—the Lakers fell into a 14-point hole by halftime, finishing the night shooting just 42.7% from the field.

While Denver’s Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray dominated early, Ziaire Williams provided the Lakers’ lone bright spot with 12 points and strong playmaking, while Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler combined for just four points in the opening frame. The Nuggets’ offensive firepower, including a 13–2 scoring run midway through the first half, proved too much for a Lakers squad still searching for consistency before the regular season begins.

Defensive lapses and a lack of rhythm in transition cost Los Angeles dearly, particularly after Cam Johnson’s flagrant foul on Reaves—who responded with two free throws and a three-pointer—sparked a late Nuggets surge. Despite forcing 14 Denver turnovers into 27 points and generating 45 bench contributions, the Lakers’ rotation failed to gel, leaving questions about their offensive identity just days before the season opener.

The game underscored the challenges of refining chemistry in a single preseason contest, with Luka Dončić’s early struggles and the absence of key players in the second half further complicating LA’s transition to full-season play.